Vice guv demands release of provincial board’s funds

ROXAS City, Capiz – Vice Governor James “Mitang” Magbanua asked the Office of the Governor to release the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) funds for Sangguniang Panlalawigan members.

In a Facebook post, Magbanua claimed that Governor Esteban Evan Contreras has yet to sign the Allotment Release Order for the MOOE funds of some SP members for the months of January to March 2022.

Because of this, Magbanua claimed that some job hires and casual workers of the SP have yet to receive their two months’ worth of salaries for January and February.

This episode is a repeat of what happened in the third and fourth quarters of 2021 where the release of funds for the SP was also delayed which also affected the salaries of the employees.

“The same problem was also encountered by the Sanggunian Mernbers for the previous last two (2) quarters of the fiscal year 2021, wherein our budget allocations were only released upon receipt by the Office of the Governor of our Final Demand Letters.”

Magbanua said the funds are important in discharging the functions of the SP.

“These budgetary allotments are not only essential for the operations of our respective offices but are also, and more importantly, indispensable for our continued services to our fellow Capizenos. Hence, any delay would be to the great detriment of our constituents,” he added.

Contreras and the opposition-led SP majority have been at loggerheads over the capitol budget.