September 4, 2020 | Twenty-two (22) City Department Heads including the Office of the Sangguniang Panlungsod presented their resepective office’s budget proposals for the Fiscal Year 2021 last Friday, September 4, 2020 at the 4th Floor of Infirmary Building, City Hall Complex, Isabela City, Basilan.

In line with Isabela City Mayor Sitti Djalia A. Turabin-Hataman’s top priority agenda of a Transparent, Accountable, Effective and Efficient Governance, she directed all City Department Heads to adopt and present a line-item budgeting system saying that “…kung meron tayong pagbabagong gustong gawin sa larangan ng pamamahala, ang lahat ay nagsisimula sa pondo – kung paano natin ito ginastos.”

In addition, Mayor Hataman emphasized the importance of the line-item budgeting system and the empowerment of the people in order to effect real change in the government even if she is no longer in her position as Mayor of the City.

She said “Kung meron man tayong iiwan na legacy, ito ay ang tamang pag-iisip at tamang pag-uugali, tamang paniniwala, tamang practice ng mga mamamayan na alam nila kung ano ang sisinglin nila sa mga susunod na maglilingkod sa kanila.

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She further added, “Turuan natin sila na maging mapagmatyag, na marunong magkwenta, marunong magtanong kung saan ninyo nilagay ang pera namin, na i-hold accountable yung mga magiging susunod na public servants nila, para ma-assure tayo na kung sinuman ang uupo, hangga’t empowered yung tao, Insha Allah, ang tao na mismo ang sisingil sa kanila kung ano ang tama.”

Lastly, once the budget has been finalized, the City Mayor said this will be brought down to the grassroot level for public consultation. The different sectors and stakeholders at the barangay level will be given a chance to participate and raise their priority projects that will have great impacts to their lives.

Isabela City Mayor Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman earlier has requested all its City Department Offices and the Office of the Sanggunian Panlungsod to adopt line-item budgeting system for the 2021 Annual Budget of the city government thru Office Memorandum Nos. 83 and 84 issued last September 1, 2020.

The current administration strongly believes that line-item budgeting system can help foster greater accountability, promote public trust, and make for more efficient management of public funds. In fact, this is Agenda Number 1 (Transparent, Participatory, Effective and Efficient Governance) in her 9-Point Agenda when she set the roadmap for her platform of good governance.

She also promised to engage the participation of all stakeholders in determining the local government policies and programs, starting with the budget process.

LGU-Isabela City is scheduled to conduct the budget hearing tomorrow, September 4, where all department heads shall present and justify their proposed budgets before the City Mayor and the Budget Panel.