DAVAO CITY – A city councilor here justified on Wednesday, August 21, the allocation of over P354 million for the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) to support their programs and disagreed with a fellow councilor who called the amount “excessive.”

ORTIZ (FB)

Councilor Myrna Dalodo-Ortiz, chairman of the Finance, Ways and Means, and Appropriations Committee, said in a statement that the proposed budget is intended for welfare goods and food distribution, contrary to claims that it would be used “exclusively for seminars, food, and venue.”

During the regular session last week, first district Councilor Bernard Al-ag voted against this year's P2.2-billion supplemental budget (SB), saying he found the P354,396,000 budget for the CSWDO’s programs and services “excessive, unreasonable, and inappropriate.”

With a 15-1 vote, the 20th City Council, led by Vice Mayor J. Melchor Quitain Jr., approved SB No. 1, totaling P2,215,702,297.50. It includes funds for the salary increase for regular city government employees and gratuity pay for job order and contract service workers (CSWs).

Ortiz said the city government’s SB for this year was reviewed and discussed during second reading, allowing the council members to raise questions about the appropriations. She added that the CSWDO was invited to explain their proposed programs and services budget.

She said though the city council’s house rules dictate that no more questions nor explanations should be made after the SB 2024 is approved, her committee still felt the need to speak up to avoid misinformation and mischaracterization of the CSWDO’s proposed budget.

Ortiz said contrary to the claim that amount was intended solely for seminars that include food and venue, the minutes of August 17’s regular session revealed that the explanation of the CSWDO officers-in-charge, Julie Dayaday, went beyond this purpose.

“The allocated budget is not just for seminars and no expenditure for the venue will be utilized under the Capability Building on Sectoral Issuances and Existing Programs and Services of the CSWDO since government-owned facilities will be used like barangay gyms,” Ortiz said.

She added that if city councilors review the committee report submitted by the Committee on Finance, Ways and Means, and Appropriations, it was reflected in the report that the bulk of the amount was allocated for welfare goods and food distribution to various sectors.

Ortiz cited those involved in the capacity-building activity as Indigenous Peoples (IPs), Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), solo parents, senior citizens, women and children, and other disadvantaged groups living in the 182 barangays here.

The councilor, who confirmed that the program received a huge budget for this year’s SB, said the capability-building activity would be participated in by 72,000 IPs, 6,680 solo parents, 143,393 senior citizens, 14,436 PWDs, and 78,146 women.

She said the capability-building initiative is designed to expand and enhance their knowledge and understanding of their rights and responsibilities enshrined in several existing laws and regulations.

“The CSWDO recognizes the value of the time and commitment of these individuals. Thus, it is only proper to compensate them for the opportunity cost of participating in this program by providing them the essential supplies that contribute to their general welfare,” Ortiz said.

She added that the comparison between the budget of the CSWDO and other programs like the PWD, traffic lights rehabilitation, Lingap program, and flood control and drainage systems is “unfounded.”

“If you do a thorough review of the city's budgets, these programs have been allocated with a significant amount, ensuring that the appropriations are sufficient to cover the needs to implement the project,” the councilor said.

Ortiz stressed that the objection against the CSWDO budget for its programs was based on an “incomplete and incorrect understanding” of its purpose, undermining the essential work the agency must perform.

Al-ag said that the CSWDO’s budget for their programs and services is excessive because it covers 16 percent of the total budget, unreasonable because it fails to prioritize immediate concerns, and inappropriate as the budget for PWDs is only P257,000.

“We could use the money to repair our non-functional traffic lights, for medical assistance for the poor and PWDs, the rehabilitation of our public cemeteries and public markets, for drainage projects of the flood-prone areas, and other more pressing concerns of the city,” Al-ag said.

Al-ag explained that it is proper to address what the people here want, and that is to have more inclusive programs and projects that will cater to their urgent and vital needs since the city is talking about the money of the people.

The city council approved the SB through an ordinance by Ortiz titled An Ordinance Granting Legislative Authority to Supplemental Budget No. 1 of the City Government of Davao for Calendar Year 2024. It covers the general fund proper, development fund, and economic enterprises budget.

Ortiz announced that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has issued Local Budget Circular No. 160, dated August 12, 2024, that authorized the implementation of the first tranche of the Modified Salary Schedule for Local Government Personnel under Executive Order (EO) No. 64, Series of 2024.

Under the Supplemental Budget (SB), the City Council approved P125 million specifically for the salary increase of all plantilla personnel of the city government. The salary increase  is in line with Local Budget Circular No. 160, dated August 12, 2024.

Ortiz said they have allocated funds for salary adjustments for city government workers. She added that according to item No. 13.0 of Local Budget Circular No. 160, the implementation of the updated salary schedule by the LGU will commence on the date the appropriation ordinance authorizing the SB is approved.