Monday, November 06, 2006 Nalzaro: Asean huge spendings By Bobby Nalzaro Saksi
WHY are local government units (LGUs) in Metro Cebu spending a lot for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit next month when the National Government should be the one shouldering all the expenses considering that the country is the main host for the event? The LGUs should instead save their limited financial resources to embark on projects that will benefit their constituents.
Some local chief executives and legislative bodies are using the hosting of the summit for their personal needs and to boost their political stocks in preparations for next year’s elections. I observed that some of the spending is not necessary and not justifiable, especially in security matters, rehabilitation and beautification programs. The Cebu City Government bought 25 Toyota Innovas for the local police. The National Government, through the Philippine National Police, is also on a buying spree for police mobility to be dispatched here.
The Lapu-Lapu City Government declared a state of calamity so it can utilize the calamity fund to purchase additional logistics for their elite police team. Is this necessary? Is the present logistics of the City’s Swat team not enough for its task in securing the delegates of the Asean summit? Elite forces from Camp Crame and the Presidential Security Group are coming. What about the 4,500 armed forces elements that are already deployed here? Are they not enough?
What’s the purpose of painting electric posts and traffic signs yellow and street intersections red? In the Capitol area, the paint vanished after several weeks. Officials behind these foolish undertakings are wasting taxpayers’ money. The Mandaue City Government is applying for a P20-million loan at the Development Bank of the Philippines to install new lights in the major thoroughfares at the North Reclamation Area leading to the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC), one of the venues of the summit.
Mandaue is also into massive beautification programs like planting flowers along the streets and painting the roof of houses in the densely populated Barangay Looc near the first Mactan-Mandaue Bridge. But how will these help the condition of the people in these areas. Will these solve the problem of poverty?
As for the Provincial Government, it hastily constructed the CICC despite widespread criticisms from various sectors.
What do you think will happen to all these undertakings after the summit?
