Sunday, March 23, 2008 Nogie urges colleagues to cut down foreign trips
IN HIS continuing effort to improve the image of the House of Representatives, Speaker Prospero Nograles called on his colleagues this time to cut down on their foreign travels being charged at the national coffers.
"Let us be prudent in allocating people's money," Nograles said in a statement sent to Sun.Star Davao Saturday.
Nograles said he would refrain from using government funds for unnecessary foreign travels and throwing lavish receptions for foreign dignitaries.
"I would rather that we spend people's money to improve the facilities of Congress that would help bring government closer to the people," he said.
He said reforms must have "to start in our own turf" by exercising austerity and prudence in the disposition of the budget for the House of Representatives.
Even as the P1.227 trillion General Appropriations Act for this year mandates dramatic increases in allocations for social services and infrastructure development to sustain national productivity, Nograles cited the need to eliminate "wasteful spending" of people's money.
"I will not be a globe-trotting Speaker. I do not intend to be the Speaker of the world," Nograles said.
Serious in his advocacy centered on transparency and effective governance, Nograles said he would not allow lavish expenses on visiting foreign dignitaries invited by Congress.
"Prudence is our guide. We know the bounds of international protocol. We can avoid overspending without jeopardizing international commitments and relations," he said.
Nograles noted that in the past, House funds are used to cover foreign trips for the Speaker and the members of his entourage, which include other congressmen, relatives and staff, including a media coverage crew.
Also, there is also a practice where the Speaker plays host to foreign dignitaries for receptions held in posh hotels.
"What we will do is to improve the facilities of the House of Representatives so that we can hold these receptions here with pride. Hotel receptions are very expensive and impractical," Nograles said.
He clarified though that these are part of the perks and privileges of the Speaker and it's not illegal if his predecessors used House funds for their official foreign trips and receptions for foreign dignitaries.
"It's not illegal but its impractical and immoral especially at this time when a lot of our people can hardly put food on their table," he said.
Nograles also reminded his colleagues that foreign official trips would be allowed only when necessary in accordance with international relations and protocol, investment promotions, and other vital regional and global commitments.
"We will not allow unnecessary official foreign travels of House members. If they want to travel for personal reasons, they should shoulder their own expenses. We will not allow junkets at our people's expense," the House Speaker said.
"I myself will practice self-restraint in using House funds for my travels, whether it's official or non-official," he added.
At the same time, Nograles supports the wisdom behind the fund increases in social services and infrastructure development in the country to push education and health, and to promote productivity by building the necessary public infrastructures.
"We have to have efficient delivery of social services to our people and the necessary infrastructure to allow reliable, safe and efficient movement of people, goods and services. A healthy and globally competitive manpower and good governance are requisites to sustained and meaningful development," he said.
