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January 27, 2013
Fiscal prudence ... (Jay Dejaresco)
From page 4
is in their names. The Senate President said that he trusts the senators receiving such checks because they are aware these are public funds. How about you? Do you? Would it be too much to ask where such checks were deposited, and how the funds are used? To what item in the MOOE is it used? Only deafening sounds of silence are being heard. This is what we mean when we say "fiscal prudence". What is worse is that this sad example has been emulated by other government instrumentalities, and agencies, especially in the local governments. Let's take the provincial government for example. We learn that in 2011, provincial funds, instead of being used to benefit our people, are used to buy very expensive cellphones and cell card loads for government and non government people, amounting to more than P2.5-million.
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COURTESY OF PROVINCIAL TOURISM Protocol on ... From page 2 unless there is something suspicious on the person, said Canete. He asked the policemen manning the checkpoints to respect the basic rights of the citizens. The CHR also reminded the general public regarding the advisory on the 10 basic rules during conduct of checkpoints by police as fol-
NC Jan. 27, 2013 ISSUE.p65
lows: Checkpoint must be well-lit, properly identified and manned by uniformed personnel; Upon approach, slow down, dim headlights and turn on cabin lights. Never step out of the vehicle; Lock all doors. Only visual search is allowed; Do not submit to a physical or body search; you are not obliged to open the glove compartment, the trunk or bags; Ordinary/routine questions may be asked. Be
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courteous but firm with answers; Assert your rights, have presence of mind and do not panic; Keep your driver's license and car registration handy and within reach; Be ready to use your cell phone at any time. Save an emergency number on your speed dial and Report violations immediately. Your actions may save others. (FCR/JCT-PIA 7, Negros Oriental)
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City eyes ... From page 2 person, Chiu who is the current City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council Officer sent a letter which enumerated the reasons in keeping the city under a state of calamity: difficulty in fi-
Now tell me, how can a provincial government spend P2.5-million worth of costly cellphones and cell cards? Where is the fiscal prudence in handling people's money? What I learned is that costly cellphones were issued even to rank-and file, with one rank-and-file employee issued four----repeat--- four cellphones! The governor was issued four cellphones. The provincial administrator too, was issued four. In the first place, how can one even carry four cellphones with him? Why four cellphones? Do your respective wives know about this? The cellphones purchased are the very expensive ones like IPhone, Samsung tablet, Samsung Galaxy. You can buy a cellphone for only a thousand pesos, and it works! Samsung Galaxy phones are priced each at P26,750. The governor was issued the most expensive, a Nokia E7 worth P37,000. And this is just one of several phones issued to him. Not only that, the monthly telephone bills are grotesquely, unconscionably and extravangantly high, my hair stood upon learning. For instance the provincial administrator coughed up cell phone bills amounting to P42,000. for one year. That is an average of P3,500 phone bills per month! This excludes P142,000 worth of pre paid cellphone cards for the governor's office alone. Haven't heard of "unli-calls" or "unli-text"? Instead, what they probably know is "unli-buys". That is peoples' hard-earned money, dear friends! Worse, additional post paid plans with cellphones were procured, but these phone plans were not in the name of government, but in the name of the end-users. But that is public property. Why are those in the name of government officials? Worse still, even non-government personnel, including mere job-order workers were issued government cellphones. This is a violation of the anti graft law...so disadvantageous to the government. This is so sad to know :( No fiscal prudence :( Why? Why? Why!!! Grabe. Sobra.
nally relocating the Sendong victims to permanent site; the ongoing completion of the purchase of anti-disaster equipment and the continued delay in the release of the PAG-IBIG loans. Loan applicants need not secure a certification from the city, since they can
1/1/2002, 2:20 AM
use the Presidential Proclamation declaring a state of calamity due to Sendong and the recent Typhoon Pablo. However, Vice-Mayor Alan Cordova and Association of Barangay Councils President Albert Aquino stressed that they were not amused of Chiu’s absence and dissatisfied of his excuses.