The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod yesterday passed an ordinance approving the 2006 Executive Budget requested by Mayor Evelio Leonardia amounting to P675 million.

The approved budget is subject to 18 colatillas, or conditions, which include the exclusion of the names of Mario Tajanlangit and Allan Zamora, respectively, being mentioned in the 2006 Annual Budget as Bacolod City College administrator and City Legal Officer, subject to the results of their pending cases with the Civil Service Commission.

Zamora said Councilor Catalino Alisbo inquired about his case from Interior and Local Government Secretary Angelo Reyes on Aug. 2 after the CSC Regional Office VI invalidated his (Zamora's) appointment for his failure to meet the residency requirement and after the SP withdrew its concurrence in his appointment.

In response to the letter of Alisbo, CSC acting director IV Emelita Santuyo said that Leonardia, through Zamora, filed a timely motion for reconsideration of the CSC ROVI Order dated June 17 invalidating the appointment of Zamora as Bacolod City Legal Officer. She said that, pursuant to CSC Resolution 020797, the motion for reconsideration shall be treated as an appeal and will be forwarded to the CSC proper for resolution, and that the Order is not yet final and executory.

The CSC Negros Occidental field office, meanwhile, revoked the appointment of Tajanlangit as BCC administrator for lack of concurrence by the SP. A motion for reconsideration had also been filed with the CSC.

Meanwhile, other colatillas are that the P51.2 million worth of programs, projects and activities, which represent 7.59 percent of the total annual budget for 2006, be integrated into the Gender and Development plan for 2006 to be systematically implemented, monitored and evaluated in compliance with R.A 7192.

The utilization of the calamity fund for emergency preparedness should comply with existing DILG guidelines, memoranda or circular. The Solid Waste Management share of the barangays should be increased by way of supplemental budget, and that the city apply for authorization or deputization as enforcement unit for the Clean Air Act to enable the city to enforce the national law at the local level as well as earn income.

The Annual Investment Plan projects for the barangays shall be subject to official and proper information with its respective barangay councils for their appropriate monitoring, and that serious efforts be exerted to fund the approved ordinances of the SP which require certain funding subject to availability of funds and urgency of priority or needs.*CGS

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