The Committee on Appropriations and Finance chaired by Bacolod Councilor Roberto Rojas will hold a committee hearing at 2 p.m. today to take up the request of Mayor Monico Puentevella for another supplemental budget of P53.3 million.

The supplemental budget, the third sought under his administration, will be taken from various current operating expenses and savings from past years continuing appropriations of offices/departments for the essential operating requirements of the city.

Rojas said the purpose of the public hearing is to clarify several matters in the request of the Mayor, like how many employees will be given their year-end bonuses, and how much each will receive, in an interview over Aksyon Radyo.

City Administrator Rolando Villamor had earlier said that the amount is intended for the bonuses of employees of the Bacolod City government for Christmas.

In his letter to the SP dated Nov. 11, Puentevella requested for a supplemental budget of P53,373,012.29 broken down as follows: Personal services totaling P36,453,297, which covers Personnel Enhancement Incentive - P26,480,000; terminal leave benefits - P9,600,000; year-end bonus P320,797 and cash gift - P52,500.

Sangguniang Panlungsod totaling P751,870, which covers year-end Bonus - P551,870 and cash gift - P200,000; City Administrator’s Office totaling P31,514, which covers year-end bonus - P29,014 and cash gift - P2,500; and City Legal Office totaling P31,514, which covers year-end bonus - P29,014 and cash gift - P2,500.

Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses which include Mayor’s Office - general services and interest expense; General Services Office – other supplies expense and insurance expense; Department Public Service-Solid Waste Division which include other supplies expense, rent expense, and gasoline, oil and lubricants totaling P14,201,817.29; and special purpose appropriations debt servicing – Philippine Veterans Bank loan amortization – P1,903,000.

BRGY. PLEBISCITE

Meanwhile, Gemeno Ymballa, counsel for the petitioners for the creation of Barangay Paglaum, said they have already submitted all the requirements for the conduct of a plebiscite and that it is scheduled on January 11, 2014.

Ymballa said he inquired from the office of Councilor Carlos Jose Lopez how they could meet the P3.6 million budget required by the Commission on Elections.

He said Lopez had authored a resolution requesting for an additional budget of P600,000 since the P3 million was already assured by the City Treasurer’s Office, and included by the previous administration in the 2013 Annual Budget.

Ymballa said that, according to Bacolod Election Officer Mavil Majarucon-Sia, the additonal budget of P600,000 required by the COMELEC was due to the increase in the number of voters in Bgry. Mansilingan during the last registration and election.

The CTO has assured them that it is ready to issue a check for P3 million provided that COMELEC has submitted its requirements, he said.

Their only problem is the P600,000, but they were assured by the new administration that it will find a way to provide the additional budget on or before Nov. 27, Ymballa said.

Ymballa is appealing to the residents of Paglaum and neighboring areas, as well as Mansilingan, to support the creation of Barangay Paglaum.

“Let us not allow this to be tainted with politics because this is a non-partisan activity. This is a political exercise of the residents who have met the requirements for Paglaum to become a barangay,” he added.*CGS

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