SP Committee Hearings reveal lapses in the AIP/Budget Preparation

By EMY C. BONIFACIO, Samar News.com
August 22, 2010

The 2010 Annual Budget of the Provincial Government of Samar is presently being subjected to a keen scrutiny from members of the two committees. A series of marathon hearings jointly held by the Committee on Finance and Appropriations and the Committee on Laws and Legal Matters have called on the different agencies and the Local Finance Committee to defend the appropriations/items incorporated in the proposed budget.

Based on my personal accounts on the hearings conducted, the Committees have already noted major procedural lapses in the budget preparation. First, it was only last July 22, 2010 that the budget was calendared for deliberation. Secondly, it has questioned in particular, the absence of an Annual Investment Plan that was duly approved by the Provincial Development Council prior to the submission of the Annual Budget. Furthermore, it was observed that the plans and programs contained in the AIP did not pass the consultative process since there were proposed projects that are already implemented from other sources of funds; specific places for project implementations are not provided; resource persons/offices for various social/promotional programs are not identified and priority programs are not reflective of the needs of the Samarnons.

It may be recalled that Samar has been operating under a re-enacted 2008 budget since 2009. The succeeding proposed annual budgets failed to get the SP's approval after the Tan's administration has continually been bombarded by criticisms for irregularities in its financial transactions, unfinished infrastructure/road projects, poor governance and more other administration lapses. In fact, former Governor Milagrosa Tan was meted a 90-day suspension last December 2009 to February 2010 for graft acts committed.

With the new set of provincial employees sworn in, the budget controversy becomes a hot issue putting more pressure on both the Executive and the Legislative Branches. The seven (7) Board Members (Magnificent Seven), whose numbers control the Sangguniang Panlalawigan decisions, are decided to protect the coffers of the province.  Hon Eunice Babalcon, Chairwoman of the Committee on Laws and Legal Matters, was even quoted with these pronouncements. "We don't want to take part in the approval of a budget that is not beneficial to the people. Himay-himayon ta ini para hingadto ha maupay nga kakadtuan".

Likewise, Hon. Noel Sermense, Committee Chair for Finance and Appropriations bluntly said approving the budget hastily, will not solve the problems of Samar. This was Sermense's reaction to Governor Sharee Ann Tan's statement that, the delivery of the basic services is hampered because of an unapproved operating budget. Employees were even motivated to lobby with the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for their benefits and salary differentials. Placards were displayed at the lobby of the session hall urging the legislators to immediately pass the budget. Governor Tan, in a press conference, blamed the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for the delay in passing the budget. She had posed a challenge to the Board Members to approve the budget now with the assurance to deliver the services, and that if she fails to deliver the basic services provided in the budget, they can disapprove the 2011 budget. It is to the perception of Hon. Charlie Conejos that these activities are orchestrated by the administration to pressure them into signing the budget. Onlookers are waiting for the outcome of this tug-of-war between the executive and the legislative branches.