A city councilor questioned the proposed P55.675-million budget for Kabankalan City’s Charter Anniversary celebration, saying the city government should prioritize essential public services and ensure accountability for previously released festival funds before approving additional appropriations.
In a privilege speech delivered during a special session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod on Monday, July 20, Councilor Adolfo T. Mangao Jr. said the proposed budget includes a P28.875-million supplemental appropriation, bringing the total allocation for this year’s celebration to P55.675 million, with P54.875 million lodged under the Office of the City Mayor.
Mangao clarified that he was not opposing the city’s Charter Anniversary celebration but said the Sanggunian has a responsibility to ensure public funds are spent wisely.
“Does a one-week celebration justify an expenditure of more than 56 million Pesos?” he asked.
He said the question is not about personalities or politics but about “priorities” and “public accountability,” stressing that legislators are duty-bound to exercise prudent stewardship over taxpayers’ money.
Mangao argued that while the city is allocating millions for a five-day celebration, longstanding concerns affecting residents remain unresolved.
He cited persistent problems at the public market, including leaking roofs, poor drainage, stagnant water, clogged canals, and deteriorating facilities—issues he said have repeatedly been raised before the city council, including during this year’s budget deliberations.
He also pointed to recurring flooding in several barangays caused by waterways that require regular declogging and maintenance.
“Festivals last for only a few days. Public markets serve our people every single day,” Mangao said.
“Concerts end after a few hours. Flooding and unsanitary conditions remain long after the stage has been dismantled.”
“Our duty is not merely to fund celebrations but to fund solutions to the everyday problems of our constituents,” he added.
For transparency
The councilor also sought greater transparency on the P41.9 million appropriated for donations or financial assistance, particularly funds released to the Kabankalan City Cultural and Tourism Foundation, (KCCTF) which plays a major role in implementing the Charter Anniversary activities.
Mangao said the City Accounting Office had issued an official demand letter, as part of the Commission on Audit’s (COA) annual audit of the city’s financial statements, seeking the liquidation of P12.722 million in previously released funds.
According to him, the amount includes P8.705 million for the 28th Charter Anniversary celebration, P3.666 million for the “Illuminate Kabankalan: A Night of Lights and Live Music” program held in December 2025, and other outstanding balances from previous financial assistance releases.
He emphasized that the existence of unliquidated funds does not automatically indicate misuse of public money.
“Let me emphasize that the existence of unliquidated cash advances does not, by itself, establish misuse of funds. However, it undeniably raises important questions regarding compliance with government accounting and auditing requirements,” Mangao said.
He noted that the City Administrator serves as vice chairperson of the foundation while at least three members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod sit on its board of trustees.
With another P28.875 million being proposed on top of the P26.8 million already appropriated for this year’s celebration, Mangao said the council has every reason to ask whether the outstanding unliquidated funds from previous celebrations have already been fully accounted for before authorizing another substantial appropriation.
“This is not an accusation. It is a legitimate exercise of fiscal oversight and our sworn duty to protect the interests of the taxpayers of Kabankalan,” he said.
More anomaly
Mangao also raised concerns over the continued increase in appropriations for Job Order personnel, clarifying that his remarks were not directed at the workers themselves but at the city’s growing reliance on Job Order hiring.
He said the COA, in its 2024 and 2025 Annual Audit Reports (AAR), had already raised observations regarding the engagement of Job Order personnel, which he said the city government should carefully examine.
Concluding his speech, Mangao urged the city council to review its budget priorities and strengthen oversight of public expenditures by placing greater emphasis on infrastructure maintenance, flood mitigation, sanitation, and other essential public services.
“Accountability must come before additional appropriations. Transparency must precede trust. Before we spend more, we must first account for what has already been spent,” he said.
As of posting, neither the City Mayor’s Office, nor the City Vice Mayor’s Office, nor the KCCTF had yet to issue statements on the matters raised by the city councilor.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, contributes to Negros Daily Bulletin, and maintains a blog on Medium.