Davao City First District Councilor Bernard Al-ag released a statement explaining why he voted against the P2.2 billion Supplemental Budget for this year during the regular session last Tuesday saying he found the P354,396,000 allocation for the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO)’s “capability building on sectoral issuances and existing programs and services” excessive, unreasonable, and inappropriate.
With a vote of 15-1, the 20th Davao City Council under the leadership of Vice Mayor J. Melchor Quitain Jr. approved Supplemental Budget No. 1 amounting to P2,215,702,297.50 including the fund that will be used for the salary increase for plantilla employees of the city government of Davao and gratuity pay for job orders and contracts of service.
Included in that fund will be allocated to infrastructure, development funds, economic enterprise, and others.
Al-ag was the lone councilor who voted against the approval of the SB.
“Supak sa akong kabubut-on ug konsensya nga ang 354 Million pesos ilawom sa Supplemental Budget na 2.2 Billion pesos, gamiton lamang para sa mga seminar ug training, lakip niana ang gasto sa pagkaon ug bayad sa venue,” Al-ag explained.
In a statement, Al-ag explained that the P354 million is excessive because it covers 16% of the total budget.
“It is unreasonable because it fails to prioritize the more immediate concerns. It is inappropriate because the allocation for Persons With Disability (PWD) Support Program is only P257, 000,” he said.
According to Al-ag, instead, the city government of Davao could use the money to repair the non-functional traffic lights, for medical assistance for the poor and PWDs, rehabilitation the public cemeteries and public markets, for drainage projects of the flood-prone areas, and other more pressing concerns of the city.
“Lastly and more importantly, we are talking about the money of the people. Thus, I find it proper to address what the people of Davao really need and that is to have more inclusive programs and projects that will cater to their urgent and important needs,” Al-ag said.
Meanwhile, the SB was approved through the ordinance titled “an ordinance granting legislative authority to Supplemental Budget No. 1 of the city government of Davao for calendar year 2024, comprising the budget under the General Fund Proper, the Development Fund, and the Economic Enterprises in the total amount of P2,215,702,297.50”, which was authored by Councilor Myrna Dalodo-Ortiz, Chair of the Committee on Finance, Ways and Means, and Appropriations.
The sources of funds are from the General Fund Proper, Development Fund, and City Economic Enterprises from the operations of markets, slaughterhouses, cemeteries, Davao City Recreation Center, and Sta. Ana Port.
Dalodo-Ortiz said that also included in the SB is the fund that will be used for the salary increase for plantilla employees of the city government of Davao and gratuity pay for job orders and contracts of service.
Dalodo-Ortiz said the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) already released the Local Budget Circular No. 160, dated August 12, 2024, providing for the implementation of the first tranche of the Modified Salary Schedule for Local Government Personnel pursuant to Executive Order (EO) No. 64 Series of 2024.
She also said under the SB, the City Council approved an amount of P125 million for the salary increase of all plantilla personnel of the city government of Davao.
“We already have a budget for the increase of compensation of city government workers and under item No. 13.0 of the Local Budget Circular No. 160, the implementation by the LGU First Tranche of the updated salary schedule shall be on the date of approval of the appropriation ordinance authorizing the SB,” Dalodo-Ortiz said.
The salary increase of the personnel of the city government of Davao is pursuant to local budget Circular No. 160, dated August 12, 2024.
On the other hand, Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte said earlier this month that malfunctioning traffic lights will be recalibrated along with the rollout of the Davao Bus System in Davao City.
“Mao na basin matingala mo CTTMO na ang naa diha kay gidungagan na ug update ang mga traffic lights pag roll out sa bus system sa Davao. Wala na sa wala ginaayo, it is not capable anymore, it’s not calibrated for the situation or the traffic that we have, the volume of cars that we have on the roads,” the mayor explained.
