Newsbriefs
NO LEAVING PH FOR OUANO
FORMER barangay captain Jovita “Joy”Ouano of Opao, Mandaue City, could no longer leave the country without seeking the court’s permission.
Regional Trial Court Judge Gilbert Moises of Branch 18 issued a hold-departure order against Ouano who is facing eight counts of estafa.
Ouano, the younger sister of former Mandaue City mayor and now Provincial Board (PB) member Thadeo Ouano, was indicted on estafa charges filed by Clarita Boligor.
Boligor alleged that the former barangay captain issued a check with a closed checking account.
She said she asked Ouano on several occassions to replace the P331,000 loan. However, her money claims remained unpaid. Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol
RAMA RECEIVES BUDGET
LAST Monday, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama finally got a copy of the approved budget for next year.
Vice Mayor Augustus Young said it took them more than a week to furnish Rama a copy of the approved 2012 budget because of the need to incorporate some amendments into the budget ordinance.
Rama said he will have the approved budget reviewed by City Administrator Jose Marie Poblete .
The City Council only approved a P5.2 billion outlay for next year or P6.6 billion less than the mayor’s proposed P11.8-billion budget.
Rama was worried that the council would slash to only P200 million from P500 million the outlay he proposed for drainage improvement projects.
He said the city might suffer the same fate as Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City, which was badly hit by massive flooding because of its drainage problems.
Young, in a separate interview said, they wanted to approve everything that Rama included in his draft budget, “but there is no money.”
Rama has 30 days from receipt to act on the budget ordinance and return it to the council.
The mayor could either veto or not act on the budget ordinance.
If he decides to veto the P5.2-billion budget ordinance, the council would have to convene to override his veto to make the budget operational.
“If he vetoes the budget, he will be the first mayor to veto an approved budget. But we will have to see the reason for his veto,” said Young.
If Rama decides not to act on the budget, it would be deemed operational after 30 days since he received it. Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac
