Sunday, March 11, 2007 Cabaero: Illuminating checks and balances By Nini B. Cabaero Beyond 30
THE concept of check and balance is at play in the complaints for the alleged overpricing of decorative lampposts that symbolized the Asean summit experience of Cebu.
While the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas is the correct venue for the investigation of any overpricing as an act of abuse of position, the case has put the spotlight on the check and balance mechanism of agencies in Cebu.
Why was the overpricing of lampposts not caught early on or before the purchases were made? Why did it have to take a private individual and the Bayan Muna to request that an investigation be conducted? Was exigency of the situation or the tight schedule for preparations for the summit an acceptable justification to rush certain purchases?
Public works officials, two contractors and Mandaue City officials are being questioned for the purchase of the lampposts at P224,000 each when the actual cost was only about P50,000 each or lower.
Businessman Crisologo Saavedra has offered to acquire lampposts at P25,124.53 each from Shanghai, China, to prove his point of overpricing. The Bayan Muna has asked the Ombudsman for the investigation on expenses related to the hosting of the 12th Asean Summit in Cebu last January, to include the purchase of lampposts.
A total of 124 dome top-lampposts costing P27,776,000 were installed in Mandaue City in time for the summit. It was part of the program to give Mandaue City, together with Cebu and Lapu-lapu cities, a new look for the foreign dignitaries’ visit. The illumination from the lampposts and the imposing Cebu International Convention Center became the popular symbols of Cebu’s summit experience.
The rush preparations for the summit cannot be an excuse to cut short procedures and set aside the check and balance functions of the different government offices. The concept of check and balance is at the root of the essence of a democratic government.
One branch of government can set limits on the other. This is best exemplified in the three separate branches of government-–legislative, executive and judicial. In addition, there are other branches that exercise check and balance like the Commission on Audit and the Ombudsman’s office on government expenditure.
The case of the lampposts was instigated by requests for investigation made by a private individual and by a cause-oriented group months after the items were acquired and installed.
Did the check and balance mechanism inherent in government offices fail to catch the irregularity in the acquisition of the lampposts? Or did the people in government who could have raised a howl of protest decide instead to keep silent in the name of exigency or in whatever else’s name?
How about the press as the fourth estate or as the so-called fourth branch of government? Was it cowed into silence, from performing checks on government?
The case of the overpriced lampposts becomes an occasion to illuminate on Cebu’s system of checks and balances.
