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TRO filed against Belmonte, other QC officials

Andy Rosales and Hans Palacios, both independent candidates as councilor and congressman, respectively filed for a preliminary injunction to merit a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the questionable 2010 Quezon City local budget on April 28. Leading the accused parties are the incumbent city mayor Sonny Belmonte, his vice-mayor Herbert Baustista, the rest of the councilors and the city treasurer Victor Endriga.

The budget allotted for Belmonte gave him 3-billion peso fund at his discretion, while his vice mayor has 125-million and 43-million for each councilor; controlling more than 42 percent of the whole budget at 9.4-billion pesos. Given this scenario, suspicions over an anomaly and irregularities on the approved budget started with the office of the mayor, the salaries and wages for regular posts is only at P4,933,332 while for other compensations, including representation allowance, transportation allowance, bonuses and other personnel benefits is at P106,740,526.

“An investigation has to be made within the members of the city council for passing the budget ordinance without any basis for an approved Local Development Plan,” Rosales launches his allegations and presents a certification from the City Secretary’s Office confirming his claim.

The figures show an alarm for Quezon City residents on the logic of 5-million for the salaries and wages or regular pay as up against the 106-million peso intended for other compensation and personal benefits. The approved budget is a reflection of the multitudes of employees being kept and employed by Belmonte’s office.

Rosales highlights the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 7160 or Local Government Code, “Local budgets shall operate on the basis of an approved local development plan as stated on Articles 182 and 405, which Quezon City does not have.”

While Quezon City is continually threatened with unemployment, housing, over population, informal settlers, education and health issues; the Belmontes are still aggressive in putting their efforts to stay in power, which Rosales and Palacios are rallying behind to put an end to it.

“Another reason where the city government funds are concentrated right now [during this time of elections] is on the five Belmontes running for city local government seats,” adds Hans Palacios.

Sonny Belmonte’s daughter Joy Belmonte is gunning for the vice-mayoralty post, while RJ Belmonte for councilor in district 1, Kit Belmonte as congressman for district 2, Vince Belmonte for district 4 and the incumbent mayor is still running into office, this time as congressman for district 4 as well.

Rosales and Palacios are united to implement real people’s participation in the local government through the establishment of a local development plan and insist on allocating the mandatory 20 percent share of the LGUs for its development projects stated in Article 383.


The Adventures of a Fake American

It’s funny when you encounter someone pretending to have an American accent and all, but it’s very obvious that he’s a fake.

Excuse me for being this critical, but it just irked me when I hear someone trying hard to be ‘too’ American when in the first place, he is not.

I encountered this guy in the office just this morning when he tackled the morning part of our training at the contact center I am working now. The topic was more of an email and chat roll-out. Normally a roll-out, the shortest it will consume is just 15-30 minutes and then the longest is an hour.

The topic he did is a boring one. Instead of making it more lively, engaging and interactive–the trainer was more concerned on how he could deliver his American ‘accent’ or twang. Unfortunately, since he is no authentic–he trips and he stutters and even sounded a Visayan in some words he tried to pronounce. It is even way sad to hear that the guy could not even distinguish the difference between a ‘stutter’ from the word ‘mumble’.

He tried to correct me on how I should pronounce the word ‘status’ which I chose to pronounce as stey-tuhs as opposed to stāt’əs because according to him, most of our clients are Americans. What difference does it make? I agree, but if you see the note, I included, whether what pronunciation, both are accepted.

Usage Note: In a recent survey of the Usage Panel, 53 percent of the Panelists preferred the pronunciation (stāt’əs), 36 percent preferred (stā’təs), and 11 percent said they use both pronunciations. The pronunciation (stā’təs) is the older, more traditional pronunciation, and it remains the most common one in British English.