PB approves P48M for payment to contractor

THE Cebu Provincial Board (PB) approved a P48-million supplemental budget yesterday to pay off the province’s balance to a contractor for infrastructure projects undertaken in the previous administration.

Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale said the budget was supposedly “approved” during last week’s regular session via majority vote, but they lacked one vote when they passed it.

“I called for a division of the house because there was a concern from (PB Member Sun Shimura). I didn’t notice that (PB Member Christopher Baricuatro) was no longer in his seat,” she told reporters yesterday.

When Magpale called for a division, six legislators voted for the approval of the budget and Shimura abstained.

Last April 18, the PB approved the P48.366-million supplemental budget for the payment of the balance to Duros Development Corporation (DCC).

However, Baricuatro was not around when the votes were counted since he went downstairs to accommodate a visitor.

PB Member Grecilda “Gigi” Sanchez, author of the ordinance appropriating the supplemental budget, said she was re-submitting the piece of legislation to “set the record straight.”

Magpale said this was done in the spirit of transparency, saying that they could have just recorded the presence of Baricuatro and left the ordinance as it was.

“It was very clear that the Honorable Baricuatro was out of the session hall,” she said.

When the ordinance was deliberated last week, PB Member Shimura abstained from giving the Capitol the authority to pay since it falls within election period.

Among the prohibited acts under the Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines is the disbursement of funds other than regular releases such as salaries, wages, and continuing allocation.

Sanchez said there is already a court order for the payment of the Capitol’s obligation which they should adhere to.

Magpale earlier said that the approval of a supplemental budget is not the same as payment.

Regional Director Jose Nick Mendros of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said payments for ongoing or completed projects are allowed during the election period. He said it is not covered by the election ban.

Under Sec. 261, par. o of the Omnibus Election Code, the use of public funds, money deposited in trust, equipment, facilities owned or controlled by the government for an election campaign is not allowed.