The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has recently acquired a luxury vehicle that is worth P4.9 million without the approval of the Department of Budget and Management. The Commission on Audit (COA) blew the whistle as it questioned the said purchase of a Toyota Prado which falls under the classification of a “luxury vehicle” under Administrative Order No. 14. The said Order was issued by then President Rodrigo Duterte which prohibits all government agencies from acquiring and/or using luxury vehicles for their operations.
The PCG has purchased the said vehicle despite their having already a fleet of more than 400 vehicles and such runs against the said administrative order. Aside from the vehicle’s hefty amount, the PCG had it bullet-proofed to the tune of P2,800,000.00.
The COA also flagged the agency’s purchase of 31 units of brand new Isuzu MU-X worth P1.9 million each or a total of P58.9 million. The PCG has already 459 service vehicles used in their operations and services.
The PCG meanwhile justifies the bullet-proofing of the said vehicle as a necessary way to ensure safe and secured transportation of the Commandant. One may wonder why the Commandant needs to be secured. If so needed, this will become a precedent and heads of government agencies would likewise be demanding for a “safe and secured transportation” too and spend a great amount of government funds for bullet-proofing.
The PCG has good intentions on their purchase and that is to protect their boss and to expand their mobility through the purchase of additional vehicles for their operations. However, we find it too much to spend millions of pesos for the luxury of travel of their Commandant and to add more service vehicles despite already having a great number of service vehicles for their operations and services. Even the purchased Sports Utility Vehicles are too much for their cost.
The spending is untimely when inflation is high and while we are still reeling from the effects of the pandemic. Aside from that, the government has yet to pay billions of debts. It is time perhaps to exercise austerity measures in government spending.
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The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), a government-owned and controlled corporation, has recently unveiled its new logo from the dominantly green logo with hands a sun and the name PAGCOR to the simple red and blue design that met with jeers from netizens. The new logo after it was unveiled last July 11 at the Marriot Hotel in Manila, has gained a lot of negative reactions for its design which some compare it to the logo of the Sangguniang Kabataan, to the logo of Petron, to the logo of Lucky Me noodles and a lot more.
Some netizens compared the new logo to a fighting cock, relating it to online cockfighting while some made some editing which made it funnier. Filipinos are really creative when it comes to making fun of something.
What is not funny is the amount of the logo. Believe it or not, the cost of the logo is at P4 million pesos which the said corporation points out to the cost of conceptualization, discussion, creative design and process. Again, there is government spending here which many firmly believe is an unnecessary, unwise and profligate expenditure of people’s money.
For me, there is nothing wrong with the old logo, thus it is not broken that needs to be fixed. The old logo is in fact, more formal and decent as compared to the new one. It is not worth spending and the funds used should have been devoted instead to charitable activities.
Meanwhile Makabayan congressmen are calling for a probe on the said unnecessary government spending, pointing to said government agencies as "nagsasayang ng pera ng bayan".
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