• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Transparency and a detailed budget breakdown from the Silay City government in 2025 was sought by Sangguniang Panlungsod member Ryan Gamboa.
A P1.234 billion budget for 2025 for the Silay City government is being proposed by the Executive Department.
Gamboa, the running mate of former mayor Mark Golez who will challenge the reelection bid of incumbent Joedith Gallego in the 2025 elections, disclosed that the Executive Department failed to present an itemized budget and program of work for its 20 Percent Development Fund, amounting to P214,695,501.80, noting also that most of it was reported to have been allocated for the hiring of more Job Order employees.
He reminded the Executive Department that the 20% Development Fund, which is mainly for infrastructure, cannot be used for labor intensive projects.
Gamboa also wants the accounting and legal procedures to be strictly followed, as stipulated under the Local Government Code.
We do not want to repeat a situation where they stated that the P499 million budget was allocated for the New Government Center, and suddenly the project cost became P319 million, the councilor stressed.
“We want to see the paperwork behind the endorsement that matches with the actual budget,” Gamboa emphasized.
During the regular session of Silay City Council, he also revealed there are several items which were not included in the committee report presented by Councilor Andrew John Penuela.
He also noted that some department heads and even some of his colleagues have been raising concerns, especially on the reduced budget on Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE).
Gamboa said the budget for fuels, repair and maintenance, and office supplies, is now under the mayor’s office, under the so-called centralized procurement system.
He said they were told by the City Budget Officer that they may ask for an additional budget from the Mayor’s Office.*
