The veto by Bais Mayor Hector Villanueva of two items in the 2006 proposed budget of the city government is believed to have caused the delay of its passage, Councilor Angelo Teves said.

Vetoed were the P3 million budget for the Negros Oriental State University, and the P600,000 allocation for the Sangguniang Panlungsod, Teves said.

Teves, chairman of the Committee on finance of the city council, said NORSU president Dr. Henry Sojor confirmed that the allocation for the NORSU campus in Bais was not included in the general appropriations.

Under the NORSU charter, the local government of Bais shall continue its financial obligations to the faculty and staff. The Sanggunian, on the other hand, opposed the move of Villanueva to acquire long firearms for the city's policemen.

Council members said they are not against the desire of the mayor to augment the firepower capability of the police, but question the choice of the firearms.

Villanueva said he wanted to acquire at least 10 AK47 and M14 rifles for the police, but Teves said the firearms are not needed in Bais. The councilors said they prefer sidearms for the policemen over the assault rifles that requires expensive ammunition.

Besides, Teves said, he doubts whether Camp Crame will authorize the purchase of the high powered firearms.*

back to top