No money for ‘Pasko,’ bonus

By Antonio M. Ajero
THE proposed Supplemental Budget No. 3 of the Davao City government involving some P400 million has not yet been approved because the city treasurer will not certify to the availability of money for it.
This was learned from Mayor Sara D. Carpio in her Monday press briefing.
In answer to a query posed by broadcaster Allan Abais, anchorman of the dxAB’s Banat sa Radyo Patrol of ABS-CBN morning program, Mayor Carpio said because of the refusal of the treasurer to certify that there is money for SB No. 3, funding for the ongoing “Pasko Fiesta” activities and the planned Christmas bonuses for plantilla and job order (contractual) employees are now in limbo.
SB 3 reportedly includes some P130 million for Christmas bonuses of P15,000 for each plantilla employee, and P10,000 for each job order (contractual) worker.
Another component is the budget of P10 million for Pasko activities, food and other provisions for members of lumad tribes who will participate in the Pasko Fiesta.
However, the lady mayor said she does not believe in City Treasurer Rodrigo Riola’s claim that there is no money for the supplemental budget.
“I know there is money for it,” Mayor Inday told media persons covering her press briefing.
 In a follow-up interview by Randy Canedo, another ABS-CBN anchorman, Riola said the city mayor is misinformed and that somebody who assured her there is money did not know that there is really no such money.
He laments that city government employees are blaming him for the doubtful status of SB No. 3.
Requested by anchorman Abais for reaction, Mayor Sara said:
“Ang problema ni Riola, hindi niya ginagawa ang trabaho niya. Kung siya mayor, ako ang treasurer, dili gyud ko motubag way kuarta kay klaro na wala ko nagtrabaho!” (The problem with Riola, he’s not doing his job. If he were the mayor and I am the treasurer, I would never say that there is no money, because it would mean that I am not doing my job).