CEBU CITY (Jan. 22, 2024) – Mayor Mike Rama has left the decision of the City Council to override his veto to the 2024 annual budget to his two trusted lieutenants to tackle and explain.
He said he did not sign the veto without the recommendation of city administrator Collin N. Rosell and city budget officer Jerone G. Castillo.
“I’m leaving it to (Rosell and Castillo),” Rama said during the Ingna’ng Mayor segment of Sugboanon Channel this morning.
“They will be the spokespersons on the matter. So, they now have to talk,” he said.
During a press conference later at noon today, the mayor told reporters he will only have one question to ask both lawyers: “Is this (override) appropriate for the veto or not? Guide me.”
In his veto message, the mayor said the legislative body should not go beyond its oversight functions, adding that the items were “prejudicial to the public welfare.”
Among the items he vetoed is the defunding of unutilized capital outlay from the 2023 budget.
The Council overrode the mayor’s vetoes during its session last Jan. 17, 2024.
‘Mag-Reflect‘
When asked if the override meant a political division with his allies in the local legislature, he would only say, “Sila ang pangutan-a, dili ako.”
But he added, “ako man na sila’ng mga anak. Naa ba’y amahan nga dili paminawon sa anak? Paminawon sad.”
“Kung ang anak gud mokalit og hugpong, mag-reflect sad ang amahan,” he pointed out.
“There will always be sibling rivalry. There will always be disenchantment, children to parents, parents to children. These are things not unnatural,” he explained. | PPRMN/cte
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