Former Mayor Carlo Gamban yesterday dismissed as "absolutely impossible" claims that the budget of the Silay City Mayor's Office is zero up to December, and that there is no money left for the hiring of casual employees.

How come employees of the City Mayor's Office are still receiving their salaries, how come the mayor can still perform and do activities pertaining to local governance, how come supplies of mayor are still there? Gamban asked, referring to the claims of an alleged zero budget for the Silay mayor' s office.

Nowhere in the history of governance has it happened that the City Mayor's Office can operate on a zero budget. It never happened and will never happen, he said.

Businessman Jose Montelibano who won the Silay mayoralty race, claimed that the budget of the office of the mayor is zero up to December 31.

Montelibano said that, while an P8 million supplementary budget was approved by the City Council, it is still inadequate. He added that they cannot afford to hire casual employees now.

Gamban also debunked claims that the city government was bankrupt, when he stepped down from office on June 30 .

He said that there was an appropriation for the hiring of casual employees and more than 1,000 people for the "two days-two days" program, which is included in the annual general budget for year 2007.

"The new administration will not hire casual employees, not because that there is no money, but maybe because hiring of casual employees is not their priority", Gamban said.

During his term as mayor, Gamban, said the city government had more than 2,000 employees, including regular and casuals.

He explained that the Internal Revenue Allotment of Silay City government arrives on a monthly basis, and added that the city government is expected to receive P20 million this month.

Another P100 million in IRA is arriving from August to December this year, on top of the local income of P15 million in the next month five months, Gamban said.

TOTALLY FALSE

So, he added, all the allegations against him and his administration , are totally false.

The P1 million intelligence fund of the City Mayor's Office form part of the supplemental budget, recently approved by the City Council of Silay, Gamban also said.

Montelibano had withdrawn his petition against the implementation of the P20 million budget approved earlier by the previous city council members of Silay.

Gamban said he is still confused as to the reason why the very person who asked for a temporary restraining order, saying they do not need the money, now wants the same TRO lifted.

Montelibano and former Councilor Ignacio Salmingo said their petition was rendered moot and academic when the Sangguniang Panlalawigan disapproved the ordinance.

As to the P44 million in payables, Gamban said it pertains to the massive infrastructure projects implemented during his administration, which are to be paid on a long-term basis.

It is normal for a local government unit to have a long-term loan for infrastructure projects, Gamban said.

He added that P8 million has been allocated every year for payment of the infrastructure projects.*GPB

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