Monday, August 15, 2005
Pricey lechon stalls coop aid
By Rene H. Martel
CEBU CITY -- How much does one lechon cost these days?
At the Cebu City Council, a roasted pig estimated to cost P5,000 is expensive enough to cause the deferment of a resolution seeking financial aid for the celebration of the Cooperative Month this October.
The resolution asked for a P300,000 allocation from the City's Pagcor funds. But Councilor Procopio Fernandez, who wrote the resolution, decided to have it deferred for a week, over objections.
The council wondered why the Cebu City Cooperative Development Council (CCCDC) asked for the amount when it can get funds from the City's account for cooperatives because of its City accreditation.
Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera noted that some items, like per diem allocations, are not covered under Pagcor's guidelines for the use of its monthly allocations to the City.
Besides, she said, the budget for lechon was "overpriced" at P5,000 each.
Vice Mayor Michael Rama, presiding officer, reminded the councilors that they should be very careful with the lechon. It doesn't only pose health risks, it may cause the councilors other kinds of troubles too.
In 1997, the Commission on Elections (COA) told the Council to refund the City of the amount paid for lechon. COA said funds were "indiscriminately" disbursed to buy lechon for the council's Christmas parties and as gifts to barangays and non-government organizations.
The council, it said, "lacks prudence in the use of the government's scarce resources."
CCCDC has lined up activities for the October celebration.
The list includes a Lakbay Aral to Tacloban City for its 16 officers. For that, the budget is P78,600. Budget for the closing ceremonies is P150 for 60 persons and P10,000 for two lechon.
"I hope there can be an account somewhere where this can be answered," Rama said. Pesquera suggested the City's account for cooperatives.
Rama ordered Councilor Augustus Pe Jr. to check if the money can be taken from the cooperative account.
(August 15, 2005 issue)
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