City mayor names new treasury chief

There’s a new treasurer in City Hall as far as Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama is concerned.

He designated assistant treasurer Emma Villarete to fill the post pending action on his request for a new treasurer from the Bureau of Local Government Finance.

“I will be left without anyone and I will have to exercise whatever I believe is my implied power as mayor,’ he said in yesterday’s press conference.

He asked for a replacement for Acting City Treasurer Tessie Camarillo from the bureau last Nov. 4.

Both Camarillo and Villarete were unavailable for comment.

Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young said Rama’s appointment of Villarete is unacceptable to the council.

“As far as we are concerned, Camarillo is still the city treasurer. Unless changed by BLGF, she is still the treasurer, period,” said Young.

One reason Camarillo is no longer in the mayor’s favor is her statement that the Cebu city government may be unable to earn enough revenues to support the mayor’s proposed P11.8-billion budget for next year.

She said the treasurer’s office is having difficulty meeting the P4.5-billion budget requirement to fund this year’s annual budget, a disclosure that infuriated Rama.

Rama appointed Villarete to explain the budget’s revenue sources during the start of the council’s budget hearings last Nov. 4.

But the council ignored Villarete and asked for Camarillo instead.

Due to her appointment, Villarete will already sit as member of the Local Finance Committee (LFC) to replace Camarillo.

The LFC is working on a revised statement of income receipts and possible 2012 budget now pegged at P10.8 billion.

Rama said Villarete will already be signing documents and vouchers for the CTO.

Rep. Tomas Osmena of Cebu City’s south district said he may do something to intervene in Camarillo’s replacement.

Osmeña, who earlier opposed Rama’s request to extend the tenure of former treasurer Ofelia Oliva, said he trusts Camarillo.

Young said the council may also plan to oppose Camarillo’s replacement.

Rama said it was within the mayor’s powers to name a new treasurer.

He said he needed someone whom he can trust to defend his budget before the council, which resumes their hearings today.

Young said they expect department heads to do their “homework” before they appear before the council.

He cited the case of the Cebu City Medical Center, which claimed that they needed a P400-million budget since their rooms are filled to capacity.

But a check with the hospital showed that the CCMC only has a occupancy rate of 70 percent during the first 10 months.

“This only goes to show that they do not know their figures,” Young said.

The vice mayor said Rama should revert to the “skin and bones” budgeting scheme introduced by former mayor Osmeña.

He said the city should only appropriate for its basic needs.

Other expenditures will be funded from supplemental appropriation, Young said. He said a skin and bone budget is easier to scrutinize.

But Rama said a bigger budget is needed by the city. “I’m looking out for the city’s future,” he said. Doris C. Bongcac, Chief of Reporters