Sunday, March 30, 2008 Guv: Let board members explain 'luxury cars' By Karl G. Ombion
NEGROS Occidental Governor Isidro Zayco reacted to statements from some sectors that the "luxury cars" of Provincial Board (PB) members were irregular, saying the provincial officials should be the one to explain if the "acquisition" was within the bounds of the law.
"As far as I am concerned, there is no violation of any law...in approving the release of the special project allotment of P1.5 million each to board members," Zayco stressed.
He added there was nothing irregular with the allocation because every year, "we give them regular allotments and part of that is the P1.5 million to serve as discretionary funds for their development programs."
"That means that what to do with the fund is up to them because they know better what is best for their area and their constituents," Zayco added.
He also said that when some PB members requested the purchase of the new vehicles, he and the late governor Joseph Marañon laid down three important guidelines: that the vehicle to be purchased must not exceed P1.2 million; that in case of no bidding for a specific vehicle, the dealer must be an exclusive distributor; and that the vehicle is necessary for the board members to effectively and efficiently attend to their constituents' concerns.
"As to how they use it, or specifically how they purchased the vehicle, it is them who should explain; I will only intervene and say my side when I find something irregular in the acquisition process," the governor said.
"If they said they spent P1.2 or P1.3 million in the purchase of Ford Trekker, so be it, provided they make sure that they present it (purchased car) and not a surplus sportage car or something obviously cheaper, because (then) they have something to explain," Zayco added.
Vice Governor Dino Yulo, on the other hand, said the whole issue involves only two main points - legal and propriety.
"In as far as legal matters are concerned, I can say that everything is legal; as to the proprietary concern, it is the individual board member who can say best," he said.
After all, the ultimate test of the proprietary value of a transaction is whether the vehicles are put to use by the board members to advance the development and welfare needs of their constituents, Yulo added.
"I believe the board members are aware that we are all subject to public scrutiny and the bar of public opinion come next elections," Yulo stressed.
Board members who acquired new Ford Trekker and Ford Everest vehicles were first district Board Members Renato Gustilo and Nehemias dela Cruz, second district Board Member Edgardo Acuna, fourth district Board Members Mae Javellana and Janet Torres, fifth district Board Member Dr. Melvin Ybanez, sixth district Board Members Adolfo Mangao Sr. and Macario Zafra Jr., George Gitano, president of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC), and Raul Rivera, the representative of the Philippine Councilors League to the Board.
Third district Board Member Frederick Manuel Ko opted for a secondhand Mitsubishi Strada, while second district Board Member Miller Serondo has yet to decide on what model to buy.
Yulo canceled the vehicle he ordered after Zayco's old service Ford Escapade was given to him.
Third district Board Member Patrick Lacson and SK Provincial Federation head Jebmari Bacaro, meanwhile, opted to stick with their old service vehicles.
Provincial Budget Management Officer Percival Salado, on the other hand, clarified that even if the 11 board members are already using the vehicles, the Provincial Government has yet to pay for the vehicles because their papers are still being processed.
Salado also confirmed that Negros Occidental Provincial Police Director Rosendo Franco likewise requested for a new service vehicle, but this has no approval yet from the governor.
