LEGAZPI CITY –- The ordinance amending the P67.2 million supplemental budget requested by Albay Gov. Joey Sarte Salceda for the repair and maintenance of flood control, irrigation systems, roads and bridges was passed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan amidst heated debates among the board members.

        Board Member Raul Borejon, appropriations committee chairman who sponsored the measure, said that under Item 12 the supplemental budget was allocated for the third district of Albay. But because of the recent flashfloods and landslides that hit the province, the governor had requested the finance committee to pass an amended ordinance allocating the P67,297,018.40 for the repair and maintenance of roads and bridges, irrigation system and flood control in the entire province.

        However, when Senior Board Member Glenda O. Bongao, the temporary presiding officer, called for a nominal voting, BM Ostiano Calleja questioned the procedure by saying that the proposed amendment should have been submitted first to the SP committee on public works headed by BM Carlwyn Baldo.

        Explaining his vote, Calleja said that he was objecting because he wanted to protect the people’s money as it is a dangerous precedent to make shortcuts in passing an ordinance involvings millions of pesos.

        Borejon retorted that there was the need for the committee approval of the amended ordinance considering the emergency situation.

        According to Borejon, the amoun earmarked for the repair and maintenance of irrigation system was P10 million; roads and bridges, P4.12 million and for flood control, P4.6 million.

        “This is not my project because this was requested by the governor. There’s no provision in the rules which says that any item in the proposed ordinance which affects a particular committee should first be referred to that particular committee,” Borejon said.

        BM Baldo supported Calleja’s stand by saying that it is customary that any proposed public works budget should first be referred to his committee.

        BM Neil Montallana raised a parliamentary query because according to him, Calleja’s objection should have been made before the call for nominal voting.

        BM Irenero Sales (a lawyer) urged his colleagues to be not too technical about the rules in passing an ordinance considering the emergency situation.

        But Joephil Bien, ex-officio member representing the Liga ng mga Barangay, said that he supported the stand of BM Baldo.

        Result of the nominal voting: 9-3 in favor of the proposal.