|
|
Wednesday, September 01, 2004
No parties, travel and gifts for officials: Arroyo (2:00 p.m.)
MANILA -- President Arroyo has suspended foreign trips for Philippine officials and scrapped parties and gift-giving as part of cost-cutting measures to avert a fiscal crisis, according to an executive order made public Wednesday.
Only travel abroad relating to crucial ministerial meetings or training funded by overseas grants will be allowed, the order, which was signed by Arroyo Tuesday, said.
The instruction covers all presidential appointees, including those in state-run companies and their officials.
Those seeking to travel would have to directly ask permission from Arroyo's office, which will review monthly reports of all agencies on cost-cutting measures.
"Conduct of celebrations and cultural or sports activities" not related to the core function of agencies will also not be permitted, while giving donations, contributions, grants and gifts are also suspended, the order said.
Government agencies will also not be allowed to expand or create new positions as well as purchase new vehicles, except for those used by the military and police, it added.
Arroyo also ordered all agencies to cut by at least 10 percent fees paid to consultants and contractual employees and save on consumption of fuel, electricity and other utilities.
The austerity measures "are necessary in order to meet the country's fiscal targets, maintain its macroeconomic stability and improve investor confidence," Arroyo's executive order said.
Arroyo last month said the Philippines was already in the midst of a fiscal crisis and called on the public to make sacrifices.
Her statement echoed a warning by a group of renowned economists from the University of the Philippines that the country could experience a crisis similar to that in Argentina after it failed to control spending and debt. (AFP) |
|
|
|
