PB looks into gov’s projects, assistance

FINANCE officials of the Capitol will be grilled on the province’s expenditures, projects and assistance to other local government units (LGUs) in the coming days.

Provincial Board (PB) member Arleigh Sitoy said the inquiry would start after the approval of his resolution inviting these officials to shed light on the Capitol’s fiscal status.

“It will be a factual inquiry into the veracity of reports. It will be in aid of legislation and in the spirit of good governance. It will be done by the board. No one will be prosecuted, we have an Ombudsman for that,” Sitoy said.

Sitoy, who resigned as PB minority floor leader, said the inquiry would be used to formulate guidelines for drawing up the province’s budget as well as policy evaluation guidance.

Asked to appear before the PB were Budget officer Eme Gingoyon, Provincial Accountant Emmanuel Guial, Provincial Treasurer Roy Salubre, Planning Officer Adolfo Quiroga and Legal Officer Marino Martinquilla.

Sitoy earlier urged the PB to look into reports of overspending by the governor’s office, particularly on the release of calamity assistance to other provinces that was earlier questioned by the Commission on Audit (COA).

He said the board is now in a better position to investigate after the Cebu Liberal Party (LP) bloc managed to secure a majority presence and ensuring that it will act independent from the governor’s office.

Sitoy also  questioned the  P27 million outaly as development fund for the Balili property in Tinaan, Naga City since the province is mired in a refund claim court dispute with heirs of the Balili estate.

The PB member said they should show to the public that it’s monitoring the use of province funds.  Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus