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Wednesday, September 10, 2003
Wenceslao: Councilors’ ‘cheap’ cars
By BONG WENCESLAO
So Mitsubishi Adventure it is. No, I am not talking about a mountain climbing activity or a guided tour but about a vehicle. Finally, Cebu City councilors, after shopping around for the best buy, have decided to use government money amounting to P16.5 million to buy Mitsubishi Adventures. Each unit reportedly cost P871,000.
Now, the councilors are happy, and they want Cebuanos to be happy, too. Consider. The vehicle actually costs P886,000 each, so City Hall got it at P15,000 less. Plus there are added amenities and free accessories (step board: 8,000 each; tuner for LCD monitor: 12,000 each). Besides, it is not supposed to be a “luxury vehicle.”
That explains the smile and the comfy demeanor of Councilors Eugenio Gabuya, Cristopher Alix and Sylvan “Jack” Jakosalem inside the Mitsubishi Adventure in a photo on page 2 of Sun.Star Cebu yesterday. They finally found the neo-international vehicle fit for government officials of a neo-international city. Cebu will be second to none again.
Of course, nobody is falling for their trap. The point is, P871,000 is P871,000. And P16 million is P16 million. Whether the City saved P15,000 per vehicle or not, one could not help but go back to the original questions. Are shiny service vehicles for 18 councilors a priority need? Is the quality of legislation of this Council equal to this “gift”?
In reaction to my article on the purchase of vehicles last week, Text Reax contributors texted their views, all of them criticizing the Council’s move. I waited for the usual pro-City Hall text brigade to defend the purchase, but I think the issue was not included in the list that the brigade should react to. Here are some of the messages.
Gloria Ramos of Banilad, Mandaue City: “Your column represented the sentiments of the constituents not only in Cebu City but the country itself. So many people can barely send their kids to school and have to scrounge around for their daily bread. There are never enough funds for social services!
“How then can these officials afford to go on junkets abroad or ride in luxurious vehicles knowing fully well how deprived our people are. These are the constituents whose interest they are supposed to serve above their own…
“I was told in my class in local government that there are hundreds of vehicles rotting in the motor pool of the City Government. Sun.Star may want to look into this. Were these the service cars of City Hall officials? So they buy and dump, huh?”
Texter Archiebrown: “Will someone please tell Councilor Jakosalem, et al that shiny, flashy and luxurious cars won’t get them reelected? Performance will. Delicadeza lang ang hanap natin. Ayusin ninyo muna ang mga daan.”
Vic Lim (with his rather angry reaction): “How I wish that our country would resort to civil war so that the first persons that I will go after are those government officials that are wasting our money. We expected them to help us solve the city’s problems, but that didn’t happen. It seems that we have been betrayed.”
Gerald Ortiz of Talisay City: “If the councilors really need service vehicles, why won’t they opt for the cheaper yet very capable AUVs? I think their service to city constituents won’t be hampered if they ride in vehicles that are P200,000 cheaper. Also, I don’t believe that driving expensive cars would make the councilors better legislators.”
Finally, here’s a question from another texter: Can councilors not use their own cars and charge to the City claims for mileage? Cost reduction ba. Private companies are doing it nowadays.”
P.S. On the controversy regarding the banning of the entry of trisikads in the Cebu port, Boy Geverola of Lahug, Cebu City has this to say: “Trisikad operation and sidewalk vending in the port area are not part of the operation of the Cebu Port Authority…In Cagayan de Oro and Ozamiz ports, trisikads and sidewalk vendors are not allowed to enter but nobody complains.”
The boiling political pot sucked in RR of R.R. Landon who texted that: “Alvin Garcia is still the better bet for mayor against Tomas Osmeńa compared with Tingting de la Serna. Cebu City voters generally don’t like people who promote anarchy in the streets. Why won’t Tingting run against Rep. Raul del Mar?”
(For your Text Reax contributions, my cell phone number is 09166496783. Please give your complete name and address. Only selected text messages will be published, though. Or e-mail to: cowens21@lycos.com) |
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