Urbiztondo’s controversial bursar reassigned Capitol

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

URBIZTONDO – The mayor of this town can now pay anytime the ten vehicles he mortgaged to banks so he can to pay the salaries of this town’s employees. This is after his pet peeve treasurer was reassigned at the Provincial Capitol.

Mayor Ernesto Balolong said the regional office of the Bureau of Local Government Finance of the Department of Finance (DOF) has received the memorandum issued by Maria Presentacion R. Montejo, executive director of the DOF, ordering this town’s bursar Loida Cancino to report to the office of the provincial treasurer.

The directive however, said  Cancino should continue draw her salary, allowance, health benefits from this town during her one year stint at the provincial office.

Mayor Balolong was engaged in  legal and psychological battle in the past four years against Cancino whom he wanted removed from the town but could not as she was under the Department of Finance.

Balolong succeeded to temporarily have Cancino  suspended for six months by the  Ombudsman, for a graft case lifestyle checks filled by the mayor.

Cancino has already served the suspension but it gives a problem in this town as the mayor would not recognized her but instead appointed a care taker bursar who was endorsed by this town’s Sanggunian Banyan.

But the appointment of William Gusto hit a snag as the Land Bank of the Philippines-San Carlos City would not recognize him. Thus, the salaries of  town employees could not be paid.

The mayor had to mortgage his vehicles and use the money  to pay the employees’ salaries.

Balolong said during Cancino’s stint, she collected only P4 million for one year while Officer –in-Charge treasurer Rudy Mandapat from the City of San Carlos collected more than P7 million last year.

“Mandapat showed that the town deserves a better treasurer,” he said.

Balolong said before Mandapat retired, he obliged Central Pangasinan Electric Corporation and Digitel to pay business taxes here.

Balolong said even the water district pays now a 1% Water Sales Tax through the negotiation of Mandapat.