My loyalty to my party ends where my loyalty to the people of General Santos City begins.
Lately, social media and the fourth estate have been buzzing about opinions and seeming criticisms about the works of the Sanggunian Panlungsod.
Under the principle of checks and balances, I deemed it appropriate to talk to the people directly about controversial issues and topics as your Vice Mayor.
No less than the City Mayor Lorelie G. Pacquiao, said that the Sanggunian Panlungsod is preventing her from implementing her projects (e.g., CT scan, City Hall, Grandstand, etc.).
Often, these criticisms anchor on a political milieu, drawing party lines between the People’s Champ Movement (PCM) of the Mayor and the Regional Communities Reforms Initiatives (RCRI).
This unfortunate situation is being fueled by appointees of the City Mayor, who are also working for the government.
They paint us as, “namumulitika,” every time we do our jobs as elected officials. Making it appear that there is a “bida” and a “kontra-bida” in a continuing “teleserye” unraveling its plot before the public eye.
Section 458 (a) RA 7160, or the Local Government Code specifically provides that the Sanggunian Panlungsod, as the legislative body of the City shall enact ordinances, approved resolutions, and appropriate funds for the general welfare of the people.
The mayor expressed her disdain for the acts of the Sanggunian who allegedly “mangled beyond recognition” her Supplemental Budget No. 5.
In this budget, Mayor Pacquiao, wanted:
1. Php 100M CT scan for our Dr. Jorge P. Royeca City Hospital;
2. Php 260Million budget from the intended Php 650M for a New City Hall building;
3. Php 85 million budget for a new Grandstand Stage at the Oval Plaza;
4. Php 45M boxing gym;
5. An additional Php 15M for Intelligence Funds.
To fund her “wish list,” Mayor Pacquiao:
1. Unfunded Php 128 million critical positions for offices of the Local Government Units whose offices were created to strengthen the capacity of the LGU
2. Declassified Php 350.3 million of savings for the past nine (9) years
3. Reverted more than half a billion or Php 541 million, most of it, from infrastructure projects for Barangay Development to amass almost a billion or Php 893, 674,576.23 million for her SB No. 5. Almost one-third of our annual budget.
All this, a month before the closure of books for the fiscal year 2022 and in a year where we will start with almost a billion in deficit to the city budget as an effect of the global pandemic.
This is without prejudice to the impending, and now in deliberation budget for the year 2023, amounting to Php2,949,208,105.61Billion.
We cannot help but ask critical questions regarding this Supplemental Budget. 1. Bakit tila minamadali, pinipilit, at hindi nakaprograma ng maayos ang SB 5? 2. Bakit parang hindi pinagiisipan ang tamang prayoridad ng paglaan ng ating budget?
How will Mayor Pacquiao finish the bidding and other processes for the implementation of her requested SB No. 5 in one (1) month before the closure of books for the fiscal year 2022 is another question.
Allow me to summarize some of the acts of your Sanggunian.
1. We are in favor of buying the CT Scan machine. However, we do not have a place where we can put it at the hospital. Unahin natin yun.
2. Instead of P100 million for one machine, we approved a Php 25 million budget to be given directly to our people who need a CT scan through our AMPING, all for FREE. While we prepare a location for the CT Scan machine at our City Hospital.
3. We allocated Php 20 million for Cancer patient assistance for FREE.
4. We allocated Php5 Million to support the ordinance giving Maintenance Medicines for Senior Citizens with Diabetes, and Hypertension. These benefits are direct to be given to the people for FREE.
5. We are against the UNFUNDING OF OFFICE POSITIONS in the amount of Php128 Million. The Sanggunian, believes that human capital is an important resource. We returned Php76 million to fund the unfunded vacant positions so that Mayor Pacquiao can hire people to serve Gensan.
Mas marami ang naka benipisyo sa ating ginawa.
On the issue of the Php650Million budget for a New City Hall building, it is obvious that we need to prioritize the rehabilitation our City Public Market. Hindi ba pangako ng lahat ng partido nung nakaraang eleksyon na ayusin ang palengke? Wala namang nangako na maglalaan ng sobra kalahating BILYON para sa bagong City Hall.
1. We are not opposed to the construction of a New City Hall. However, Mayor Pacquiao stated that she can get a national budget to finish the project. If the national budget is available, then let the national budget finish the project so the city can save money.
2. Instead of Php260 million for the first phase of the New City Hall, we put Php135 million for the Rehabilitation of the City Public Market.
3. We also gave Php80 million to jump-start the planning and the design of the New City Hall, which can readily be bid on and implemented beginning this month.
4. We also allocated Php27 million to finish the Public Museum.
5. We set aside Php10 million for the fencing of the DJPRCH.
6. We allocated Php 8 Million for the Legal Research Center.
Your Sangguniang Panlungsod cannot be a stamping pad to the whims and caprices of Mayor Pacquiao.
Alangan namang ibigay lang naming ang pera ng taong sa kanya kahit kwestyunable ang rason?
It is our duty to protect the money of the people. It is also our duty to ensure that these projects and activities are realistic, responsive, and free of the stain of corruption.
We did not put a stop to any of the developmental initiatives of Mayor Pacquiao, we simply redirected them to be more direct, more beneficial, and can directly benefit the people.
Your Sanggunian is helping Mayor Pacquiao become a better leader!
Your Sanggunian may disagree with Mayor Pacquiao in some respects, but it is not our undertaking to be disagreeable.
There is no “versus” in public service, we would like to call on our dear Mayor to take her leadership to a greater height and put a stop to this culture of division brought about by the drama painted by artists whose talents are devoted only to sow political spite that undermines public service under her administration.

 
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