TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines- Majority of the members of Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Cagayan voted to override the line veto of Governor Manuel Mamba on the passed ordinance for the 2017 budget.
In a 9-2 vote, the provincial board rejected the veto of Mamba on several provisions of the Appropriation Ordinance it passed on December 1.
The provincial board earlier passed the proposed budget of Mamba with cuts on the budget of public information office, legal office, security services, governor’s maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE), among others.
The board explained that the slash of some office’s proposed budget was meant to augment the manpower requirements of some health facilities not operating for 24 hours.
A reliable source in the provincial board told Forum that “almost all” the budget cuts were vetoed by the governor.
9-2 vote
The vote to override Mamba’s line veto was expected, with majority of the board members are in the opposition.
Board members Rodrigo De Asis and Pastor Ross Resuello, known as allies to Governor Mamba, voted not to override the veto.
Board members AJ Ponce, Cris Barcena, Olive Pascual, Jeff Vargas, Vilmer Viloria, Archie Layus, Perla Tumaliuan, and ex-officio board members Maila Ting-Que and Larry Ting voted for the override.
Cagayan Third District Board Member Karen Kaye Turingan was absent during the session.
Meanwhile, two other vetoes of Mamba were overridden during the same session, including the ordinances on “Provision of No Interest on Agricultural Production Loans to Cooperatives and Farmers’ Associations” and “Establishing a Senior High School Financial Assistance Program for Poor But Deserving Students.” Northernforum.net
