Rizal town Mayor Otol Odi vetoed the item in the 2022 Annual Budget where the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) members cut the Municipal Health Office (MHO) budget by P6 million and transferred it to the SB fund.
Odi argued it is his right as the town’s local chief executive to exercise his veto power over the annual appropriations ordinance or items therein which he thinks are not just and right for the welfare of the municipality as long as he make sure that he does not abuse the power vested on him as the town’s head.
“Ang akin lang naman ay gusto ko sana na ibalik ang pondo ng executive na dinagdag nila sa pondo nila kasi hindi naman po ‘yun makatuwiran,” Odi said.
“Sana bigyan din nila ako ng karapatan magdesisyon kung saan ko gagamitin kasi ako po ang Mayor ngayon ng Rizal,” Odi added.
He further explained that given the pandemic, it is not right for the legislators to slash the P6 million fund from the MHO as frontliners and health workers are still needing continuous support from the municipal government.
“Tsaka ‘yung MHO natin dapat hindi din bawasan ng pondo kasi kailangan natin sila lalo ‘yung mga doctor,” Odi said.
Documents from the Rizal Annual Budget for 2022 shows that all SB members have agreed and signed to cut a P6 million budget from the MHO, which they added to the special programs of their office. From a mere P5 million special program fund, the Rizal SB increased it to P11 million for this year which Odi later on vetoed.
According to a press release published by Odi’s office, the mayor also initiated a meeting together with Rizal SB members to settle the said matter but the latter failed to close an agreement.
“Nagpatawag pa ito ng pagpupulong sa pagitan nila ng Sangguniang Bayan at nakikiusap na sana’y pagbigyan ang kanyang kahilingan na ibalik lamang ang pondo na binawas sa mga opisina ng alkalde at ilagay ito sa mga allocation na siya ang magdi-desisyon, ngunit bigo ito na makuha ang pag-sang ayon ng SB at ng bise-alkalde,” the press release stated.
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