The May 14 election in Silay may be over, but not the verbal skirmishes between the administration of Mayor Jose Montelibano and that of former Mayor Carlo Gamban.

Gamban yesterday said that former Councilor-turned- Silay City administrator Ignacio Salmingo may have been "sleeping on his job" when he insist that the City Mayor's Office has a zero budget after he stepped down on June 30. Had Salmingo checked with the City Accounting and Budget Offices, he would have been informed that the City Mayor's Office still has an available balance of almost P12 million as of June 30, Gamban stressed.

He explained that the P12 million comprises the salaries of the City Mayor's Office and its monthly operating expenses.

Salmingo, however, insisted that, based on the report from the City Budget Office as of June 30, the Mayor's Office has a zero budget.

Gamban said he dares Salmingo to present a duly certified statement from the Budget Office, to back up his claims.

Salmingo further claimed that Gamban consumed the entire budget of P19,292,568.70 allocated for 12 months within only six months leaving nothing for the administration of Montelibano, and that there was no budget for the hiring of casual employees.

Gamban recalled that he was able to set aside at least P4 million a month last year for salaries of casual employees and "2 days - days" program, although the city government only received at least P16 million Internal Revenue Allotment a month.

He reiterated that there was an appropriation for the hiring of casual employees, which is included in the annual general budget for 2007.

Gamban added that the city government is expected to receive P120 million IRA from July to December.

If the city has no money, where will they spend the P120 million IRA, he asked.

Although he said he respects the prerogative of the new administration as to where they will spend the money. Gamban, however, said they should not use as reason the lack of money, for not hiring casual employees.

Salmingo scored the administration of Gamban for leaving behind a legacy of outstanding obligations totaling P44 million, some of which he claimed went to ghost projects.

Gamban challenged him to present proof of what he calls serious and malicious claims. If not, Salmingo willl be again facing a million peso damage suit, on top of the P2 million damage suit pending before the Silay City Regional Trial Court, he added.

Justifying that it is normal for a local government unit to have a long- term loan for infrastructure projects, Gamban explained that it was the Land Bank of the Philippines which releases the payment to the contractors of infra projects, and not the city government.*GPB

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