By Chito Chavez
As a sign of honest governance, Quezon City’s P5.18 billion supplemental budget for infrastructure, maintenance and operating expenses and other expenditures for 2018 was reviewed extensively by the city council.
Quezon City Vice-Mayor Joy Belmonte (Mark Balmores)
Vice-Mayor Joy Belmonte said the fund’s strict scrutiny was done in support of President Duterte’s call for transparency as his administration has shun all corrupt acts.
“In the past kasi, the supplementary budget is just a matter, of course, that is passed, but this time, we want to make sure that all the documentation is in place, the paperwork has been studied, and the project has been scrutinized,” Belmonte said.
Under Ordinance No. 20CC-408, the P5.18 billion was appropriated from savings from the previous year.
The supplemental appropriation will be used to complete equipment requirements in public high schools, energy-efficient street-lighting, solid waste management system, legislative sector support services, and city-paid faculty allowances, among others.
The largest portion of the budget is set to go to infrastructure, with P3.7 billion allocated for hospitals and health centers, power-related public infrastructure, and other buildings.
Belmonte noted P800 million is earmarked for the redevelopment of the Amoranto Memorial Sports Complex in preparation for the hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in the Philippines.
As Presiding Officer of the City Council, Belmonte has cited the councilors for their cooperation on the study.
“I’m grateful naman for the councilors who also believed in my thrust in transparent governance, in good governance, in studying the documents, in making sure all requirements are in place before passing a of legislation where five billion pesos will be spent,” she noted.
Belmonte added, “That’s a lot of money. That’s the budget of many cities already, and here, that’s just a supplemental budget.”
“This is the period that the President is encouraging us towards better governance, and the Commission on Audit as well was encouraging us towards better governance,” Belmonte concluded.