‘More independent’ PB to watch Cebu’s funds

A more independent Provincial Board (PB) was sought by the Cebu Liberal Party (LP) bloc following the resignation of one  member as  minority floor leader in yesterday afternoon’s session.

In a privilege speech, PB Mmember Arleigh Sitoy said the board is now in a better position to act independently from the governor’s office.

He cited the late vice governor Greg Sanchez as a proponent of the board’s “independence.”

But even with the Cebu LP becoming the new majority, counting 8 of the 15 members, the board agreed to set the reorganization of  committees and the appointment of the new majority and minority floor leaders on Friday this week.

The board also deferred approval of this year’s supplemental budget No. 1 worth P271,965,000 which includes  the Capitol employee’s collective negotiation agreement (CNA) incentive.

“I re-echoed it before (during Sanchez’s burial) with the hope that someday we will be united in preserving the fundamental principle of check and balance,” Sitoy  said in his speech.

The late Sanchez had  filed cases for usurpation and misconduct against Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia before the Department of Interior and Local Governments (DILG) after the governor slashed  his office’s budget and denied him authority to appoint his own consultants.

The late vice governor said Garcia’s  moves encroached on the PB’s independence even as Garcia said she was acting wthin the bounds of the Local Government Code.

Sitoy yesterday  said the Capitol board should look  into reports of overspending by the governor’s office, particularly the release of calamity assistance to other provinces, which was earlier questioned by the Commission on Audit because they did not appear to be  covered by approval of the legislative body.

Sitoy also  questioned the  P27 million outaly as development fund for the Balili property in Tinaan, Naga City.

The province is mired in a refund claim court dispute with heirs of the Balili estate.

A government survey showed that most of the Balili property bought by the Capitol at P98.9  million were mostly underwater, a deal which has resulted in pending graft cahrges against Governor Garcia and seven others before the Sandiganbayan.

Sitoy said the PB should show the public that it’s watching how public funds are being spent.

PB Member Joven Mondigo of the governor’s One Cebu party questioned whether the board hasn’t been independent before.

PB Member Alex Binghay asked: Why only now?… Before there was no question what happens… I believe that we can do things together. If we really want to question the financial disbursement, let’s question together, as one,” he said.

PB Member Julian Daan also questioned who would be the next minority floor leader after Sitoy’s resignation.

Majority floor leader Peter Calderon, who last week took his oath as an LP member,  filed a motion to keep the  status quo in the board.

The posts of majority floor leader, assistant majority floor leader, minority floor leader and committee chairmanships will be temporarily vacated.

The board also scheduled discussion of the supplemental budget this Friday.

Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale said they need more  discussion on the budget which includes an appropriation of P23.64 million as cash incentive for 1,576 Capitol personnel since the budget was submitted only yesterday morning. Carmel Loise Matus, Correspondent