SECOND District Board Member Salvador Escalante defended the passage last week of the P16.9-million supplemental budget that included the purchase of vehicles for new board members, and some Capitol departments.
“Imagination of the dirty minds,” he said of those questioning the move.
Escalante, chair of the Provincial Board committee on finance, appropriations and ways and means, dismissed criticisms that the budget approval was “railroaded” because a committee hearing was not conducted.
“It’s as if your saying that we also railroaded the appropriation to address the dengue epidemic? Likewise the appropriation for terminal leave pays, and the other important appropriations of the seven other departments?” he said.
“How can you railroad when all the board members were present? And they come from both political parties,” he added.
Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, who was on leave when the said supplemental budget was passed last week, said he was not blindsided by the board’s action, adding that maybe they felt the urgency for the budget that they decided to approve it.(TDE)