TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines- More or less a hundred people staged a protest in front of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in Cagayan on Wednesday morning, July 12.
A source privy to the protests told The Northern Forum that the protesters are former job order employees of the provincial government who were removed due to delayed passage of the 2017 Executive Budget of Governor Manuel Mamba.
Protesters were asking the provincial board to “set aside politics” and pass the budget.
Their contracts ended on June 30 and had not been since renewed due to budget constraints, the provincial government said earlier.
The source said they were also joined by some barangay captains and sectors members from Cagayan.
One placard says, “Hear your people. Hear their cries.” Another says, “Forget politics. Remember Cagayanos.”
The delayed passage of the budget put the provincial government operating under re-enacted budget.
Mamba decried the act of the provincial as mere “politicking,” saying they refuse to pass the budget “for their own interest.”
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan, however, clarified that they did not disapprove the budget and only remanded it for Mamba’s consideration.
They said they are only “doing our job” in ensuring that the budget is “sound” and “reasonable.”
The provincial board also released statements claiming that the reason the budget was delayed was because Mamba submitted the Provincial Development Investment Plan (PDIP) three months late of its due. Northernforum.net
