DAGUPAN City Mayor Belen Fernandez has protested what she said were ‘anti-poor’ cuts introduced and delaying tactics employed by opposition councilors in the approval of the city’s annual appropriation.
Fernandez has aired her grievances on social media, posting in her official Facebook page how the alleged “7 majority” slashed supposed “irrelevant” funds for education, health, and job order services.
The mayor named the seven councilors, who are allied with a defeated mayoralty candidate, as Councilors Celia Lim, Irene Lim-Acosta, Red Erfe-Mejia, Alfie Fernandez, Dada Reyna-Macalanda, Malou Fernandez, and Alvin Coquia.
“Mayayaman po ang mga miyembro ng ‘7 majority.’ Paano kaya nila nagagawang magdamot, at kung paano rin kaya naging irrelevant sa kanila ang mga napapanahong programa at proyektong para sa mahihirap nating kabaleyan? (The members of the 7 majority are wealthy. How can they deny, and how can they dismiss as irrelevant the timely programs for our poor citizens?),” Fernandez said.
The mayor said over 2,500 scholars, almost 770 job order employees, and dozens of volunteer healthcare frontliners in 31 barangays will be affected by the cuts.
Fernandez appealed to the councilors to set aside politics and approve a budget that would serve their constituents in the city.
“Hindi man pareho ang aming naging pananaw, subalit bakit kinailangan pa nilang ipahiya ako sa kanilang mga sesyon? (Our views may not be the same, but do they really have to grill me in their sessions?),” she said, referring to her having to face the City Council three times to defend the budget.
“At higit sa lahat, makatarungan din bang idamay nila sa pulitika ang mga inosenteng ‘would-be scholars’ at sibakin sa serbisyo ang mga empleyado at volunteers? (Moreover, why do they have to include innocent ‘would-be scholars’ in and employees and volunteers in the political crossfire?),” she added.
Fernandez has been active in her Facebook page, accusing the opposition councilors of politicizing the budgetary process, which she said has been delayed by over six months already.
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has said that Dagupan City was the last LGU in Region 1 to have their budget approved.
