Gwen’s ‘doleouts’
-A A +AWednesday, October 24, 2012
IF YOU read the newspapers, you get the impression that Gov. Gwen Garcia is generous.
She extends financial assistance to various local government units and barangays. She gives “doleouts” as if the money comes from her own pocket. And every time the governor gives assistance, her brother, Rep. Pablo John Garcia, and Ramon “Boboy” Durano IV, One Cebu gubernatorial and vice gubernatorial bets respectively, are always by her side.
Well, we already know their intention: to prop up the candidacies of PJ and Boboy in the entire province.
Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale and some Provincial Board members who are now allied with the Liberal Party described as foul what Gwen is doing to their Provincial Development Assistance Fund (PDAF). The Office of the Vice Governor and the PB members all have allocations for projects set to be implemented in their districts. When they were still political allies of the governor, the releasing was done through their offices.
Local officials identified the project, and a request for funding was made chargeable to the PB member's PDAF. But the system has been changed. The funds are now included in the doleouts of the governor and are directly given to the beneficiaries during the governor's visits to the municipalities. During the distribution, the names of the PB members concerned are not mentioned.
Sought for comment, the governor said, “Gikinahanglan pa bang i-mention nga ila? It does not matter who delivers it there. No problem. Even without the courtesy of mentioning our names. It is okay, basta makaabot lang sa barangay.”
For the governor, this does not really matter because she is the one handing out the funds directly to the beneficiaries and they (beneficiaries) think it comes from her. But for the vice governor and the PB members, it matters. Unsa man diay ang gobernador lang ang mo-starring? Ang bise gobernador ug mga PB members diay?
Mentioning the names of the PB members is also important so the beneficiaries will know that the funds came from them. That’s for political purposes also. But Gwen is the one claiming all the credit. Don't do it Madam Governor. It's not your personal but the people’s money. And we know your agenda. It's political. Busa ayaw pod paghinakog.
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Newly appointed Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Francisco “Bimbo” Fenandez has an “advancer” to Mayor Michael Rama. Fernandez, a political ally of Rep. Tomas Osmeña, has been tasked to focus on his long-time advocacy, which is to help and promote the welfare of informal settlers. He and his wife, Tessie, are founders of Pagtambayayong Foundation, whose advocacy is helping the urban poor.
In a Cebu Daily News article, Fernandez said he won't help facilitate his department’s assistance for Cebu City, especially for its housing program, if Mayor Michael Rama won't ask for it. For me, this statement has a political undertone. It is a warning to the mayor.
Come on, Mr. Fernandez. It is too early to play politics. It is as if you are not a Cebuano. Gikinahanglan pa bang modagkot og kandila ug moluhod si Mayor Rama nimo aron mahatagan og proyekto ang dakbayan?
Why don't you coordinate with the mayor whatever project you have in mind for Cebu? If it is good for the urban sector in the city, do not wait for the mayor to approach you. You should initiate the move. If the mayor won’t support your program because he sees Tommy in you, then it is up for the people to judge him. As pointed out in this paper's editorial yesterday, you should not be partisan.
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on October 24, 2012.
Opinion
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