BAGUIO CITY— The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Cordillera strongly urges all local chief executives (LCEs), vice-governors, vice-mayors, and members of sanggunians to ensure the timely submission and passage of the Local Annual Appropriation Ordinance in order to support the call to end the practice of re-enacting the budget, in order not to impede needed development initiatives and fiscal reforms.
“We are urging our local officials to pass their appropriations ordinance on time because we do not want to defer the implementation of new and important government programs, projects, and services,” said OIC Regional Director Araceli San Jose said today.
Noting, “Not adhering to prescribed timelines and having re-enacted budgets will undoubtedly impede our efforts to combat COVID-19 and other natural disasters, also especially as we gear towards full-devolution this year and try to bounce better and stronger.”
In the exercise of its general supervision over provinces and highly urbanized cities, the DILG shall require elective local officials who will fail to submit and/or enact appropriation ordinance within the given timeline to submit a written explanation under oath for the non-feasance in enacting the annual appropriation ordinance.
While, in the exercise of its supervision over the component LGUs, the province with respect to component cities and municipalities and the city and municipality with respect to barangays are likewise encouraged and enjoined to require the same.
Disadvantages
OIC-RD San Jose reiterated that only the annual appropriations for salaries and wages of existing positions, statutory and contractual obligations, and essential operating expenses authorized in the preceding year’s annual and supplemental budgets shall be deemed re-enacted.
She also stated that no new positions will be created, as well as no new programs, projects, or activities will be implemented. Non-recurring activities, no matter how important they are, and no supplemental appropriations shall not be implemented under a re-enacted budget.**
