TALISAY City Mayor Johnny De los Reyes withheld more than P3.5 million for the quarterly allocation of the legislative department.
The mayor’s move was made two weeks after the Talisay City Council agreed to cut De los Reyes’s proposed annual budget.
Of the P3.5 million, more than P1 million has been allocated for the salaries of job-order workers assigned at the legislative department.
The allocation release order signed by De los Reyes last month was intended to provide funds for the City Council for the second quarter of this year.
Included in those withheld are the councilors’ transportation and communication allowances, as well as the appropriations for the Sangguniang Panglungsod’s Legislative Codification and Research Project worth P1.75 million.
In his order, De los Reyes cited the failure of the City Council to approve the annual budget last March 22.
The council approved the slashed budget last March 29, a day before the deadline set by the Local Government Code in the approval of the annual appropriation ordinance for local government units.
Sought for comment, Vice Mayor Romeo Villarante said that the mayor’s deferment of their quarterly allocation was illegal.
He said the budget for the City Council was allocated under the approved annual budget this year.
Last month, the council’s majority bloc voted to reduce the mayor’s proposed annual budget from P823 million to P638 million.
Villarante said that De los Reyes’ act of withholding some of the funds intended for the City Council was a form of vindication.
“He is showing the city councilors how he can be vindictive, especially that his annual budget was slashed,” said Villarante.
He said that this was not the first time the mayor withheld funds intended for the council.
Last year, De los Reyes withheld the council’s P18 million Legislative Assistance Fund after the City Council slashed his proposed annual budget.
