By Gail Momblan/PNA
ILOILO CITY – The Association of Iloilo Provincial Government Employees (AIPGE) said on Wednesday the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) committee on appropriations must pass the 2019 executive budget before the start of the election ban period.
During their special meeting on Tuesday, the AIPGE officers and board of directors approved a resolution for the SP to hasten the budget deliberations.
Citing Section 261(g) of the Omnibus Election Code, AIPGE president Joecil Mayor said the giving of salary increases is prohibited during the 45-day period before a regular election.
Section 261(g)(2) of the Omnibus Election Code prohibits “any government official who promotes, or gives any increase of salary or remuneration or privilege to any government official or employee, including those in government-owned or controlled corporations.”
“By March 29, which is the election banning period, the Iloilo Provincial Government cannot anymore grant salary increase to employees,” Mayor said in an interview.
He said around 2,000 employees of the Iloilo provincial government await salary increases.
The AIPGE will submit the resolution to the appropriations committee this week.
In December 2018, the association also sent a request letter to the committee to fast-track the budget approval.
“We pin our hopes to the committee on appropriations to pass the budget the soonest time as possible,” he added.
On February 1, the League of Municipalities of the Philippines in Iloilo also issued a resolution to the SP to facilitate the budget approval.
The Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) of Santa Barbara town on February 12 also issued a similar resolution.
Earlier, Liga ng mga Barangay Federation president Dorothy Paes, head of the SP’s appropriation committee, said the budget will most likely be passed in March.
Paes, on SP’s regular session on Tuesday afternoon, failed to render a budget status report.
She was not able to prepare the report because she attended to a budget hearing on Tuesday morning.
