WHEN THERE ARE PLENTY OF MONEY, THERE ARE A LOT TO SPEND!

THE 62ND REGULAR SESSION OF THE 20TH CITY COUNCIL OF QUEZON CITY HELD YESTERDAY (MAY 28, 2018) ENDED WITHOUT FINISHING THE AGENDA BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF PROPER DECORUM. A COUNCILOR MUST EXHIBIT A REMARKABLE MODESTY AND DECORUM ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY ARE PERFORMING THEIR LEGISLATIVE DUTY.  SOME OF THEM ARE NOWHERE TO BE FOUND IN THE SESSION AND DOING SOMETHING ELSE WHICH RESULTED TO THE DECLARATION OF THE SUSPENSION  OF THE SESSION BY THE CHAIR.

TO GIVE MY READER A BACKGROUNDER, THERE ARE TWO IMPORTANT MEASURES IN THE AGENDA. ONE IS A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE ANNUAL INVESTMENT PLAN (AIP) OF SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION NO.1 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018 IN THE AMOUNT OF FIVE BILLION, EIGHT HUNDRED EIGHTY THREE MILLION, EIGHT HUNDRED EIGHTY EIGHT  THOUSAND, SEVEN HUNDRED FIFTY EIGHT PESOS (5,183,888,758.00) TO FUND VARIOUS MAINTENANCE AND OTHER OPERATING EXPENSES, PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT EXPENDITURES AND PROCUREMENT AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

AND THE OTHER ONE IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET NO.1, GENERAL FUND FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018 IN THE AMOUNT OF FOUR BILLION, THREE HUNDRED EIGHTY THREE MILLION, EIGHT HUNDRED EIGHTY EIGHT THOUSAND, SEVEN HUNDRED FIFTY EIGHT PESOS (4,383,888,758.00) TO FUND VARIOUS MAINTENANCE AND OTHER OPERATING EXPENSES, PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT EXPENDITURES, AND PROCUREMENT AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

THERE IS A SAYING: "WHEN THERE ARE PLENTY OF MONEY, THERE ARE A LOT TO SPEND". ACTUALLY, THE ORIGINAL SAYING IS, "WHEN THERE ARE PLENTY OF MONEY, THERE IS A LOT TO BE SPARED". MIND YOU MY DEAR READERS, THIS MONEY ARE NOT THEIRS, THIS ARE THE PEOPLE'S MONEY AND IT SHOULD BE PROTECTED BY WAY OF SCRUTINIZING EVERY SINGLE DETAILS OF HOW IT SHOULD BE SPENT.

THE SESSION IS THE PROPER VENUE TO DISCUSS THE APPROPRIATED BUDGET WHETHER IT WILL BENEFIT THE PUBLIC OR IT IS A MERE NONSENSE EXPENDITURES.

AND THE COUNCILORS ARE THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO SCRUTINIZE THE EXPENDITURES BEFORE PASSING IT. BUT TO MY DISMAY, ONLY FEW COUNCILORS STOOD TO QUESTION SOME QUESTIONABLE APPROPRIATIONS.

FOR THE SAKE OF FAIRNESS IN EXPRESSING MY PERSONAL OPINION, I WILL NOT MENTION NAMES BUT RAISE SOME ISSUES IN APPROPRIATIONS FOR CONSIDERATIONS:

1. MILK FOR SENIOR CITIZENS AMOUNTING HUNDRED OF THOUSAND VS. MEDICINE AND VITAMINS (MILK FOR SENIOR CITIZENS IS APPROPRIATED BUT THE MEDICINE AND VITAMINS ARE NOT).

2. ELECTRIC POST AMOUNTING TO MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND EACH.

3. AIR CONDITIONING UNIT WORTH MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND EACH.

4. REQUEST FOR BUDGET ALLOCATION FOR ANNIVERSARY EXPENDITURES OF THE QUEZON CITY GENERAL HOSPITAL VERSUS NO REQUEST ALLOCATION FOR THE MEDICINES.

5. INCREASE OF BUDGET FOR THE SALARIES OF THE SECURITY GUARDS.

I HOPE THAT IN THE NEXT DELIBERATION OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET OUR COUNCILORS WILL PARTICIPATE ON THE FLOOR AND MUST QUESTIONED EVERY SINGLE CENTAVO APPROPRIATED. THE PEOPLE'S MONEY MUST BE PROTECTED AT ALL COST.

WHEN THERE ARE A LOT OF MONEY, THERE ARE A LOT TO SPEND BUT PLEASE, SPEND IT WISELY.