By Robert Asignacion

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Occidental Mindoro has declared as “inoperative” San Jose’s 2011 budget, prompting an enraged Mayor Jose Villarosa to call two provincial legislators as “ungas” and obstacles to the development of the municipality.

In Resolution No. 53, the SP declared the budget as “inoperative” and “bloated” when San Jose included as revenue its share of P122 million from the tobacco excise tax as this “may adversely affect the entire budget proposed expenditures for the year that is the allowable percentage allocation for personnel, MOOE, capital outlays, the calamity fund, etc., and the statement of the sources of income for the years 2012 and onward.”

Moreover, the municipality’s share from the tobacco excise tax is already earmarked for specific purposes like livelihood, agro-industrial projects, the development of alternative faming systems, and others related to the tobacco farming sector.

Villarosa was expecting the approval of his proposed budget to prop up the town’s financial outlook and bolster its chances of obtaining loans from financial institutions to bankroll the construction of a new public market.

Villarosa, who spoke before his family-owned radio station Bambi FM, appeared particularly mad at SP members Ulysses Javier and Rod Agas, whom he accused of shooting down his proposed budget. He called them “ungas” for blocking “his development efforts.” Also called “ungas” were Governor Josephine Ramirez-Sato and her vice-governor, Mario Gene Mendiola.

Based on the March 7, 2011 SP resolution, it was Bokals Rocky Legazpi and Rod Agas who moved for the disapproval of Villarosa’s budget and seconded by all those present in the session.