Rama to Council: Hold special session

CEBU City Mayor Michael is calling for a special session of the council so barangays affected by flooding can be declared under a state of calamity.

Continuous  rains last Monday until yesterday were a result of the tail end of a cold front and a low-pressure area in northern Mindanao.

Mayor Rama said he also wants the council to again discuss the 2012 budget.

Rama said he will return to the City Council the P5.2-billion budget ordinance because he wants to see a budget source before he acts on it.

But Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young said it is not the duty of the council to specify the source of funds.

The Local Finance Committee is tasked to identify fund sources the budget and  the council’s task  to review the draft budget and see if proposed appropriations are possible.

“He was vice mayor for nine years and he should know that we are not supposed to state that (fund sources).  Mauwaw sad mi ug apil sa konseho kung ang among mayor wala diay kalibutan sa fiscal management,” he said.

Young also said the council does not mind holding a special session but budget discussion was already complete after two months of review.

“His (the mayor’s) job now is to approve or veto the budget,” the vice mayor said.

The council only approved P5.2 billion of the P11.8 billion budget proposal that Rama submitted on Oct. 14.

Rama said the P5.2-billion budget that the council approved is not “my budget.”

Still, Young said they will hold a special session tomorrow  morning to discuss the budget ordinance with whoever Rama would send to appear before  the council.

Rama was furnished a copy of the budget ordinance more than a week ago.

He tasked City Administrator Jose Marie Poblete, assistant treasurer Emma Villarete, budget officer Nelfa Briones, city accountant Marrieta Gumia, former councilor Joy Pesquera and assistant city administrator Dominic Dino to review the budget ordinance. /Chief of Reporters Doris c. Bongcac