After office hours: Talisay wants gov't cars at motor pool

The use of government-designated vehicles in Talisay City for personal purposes has long been unchecked.

Thus, the city council yesterday approved a resolution asking officials and employees who have been issued vehicles to park these at the motor pool after office hours.

Councilor Ignacio Luis Jordana, who sponsored the resolution, said that, monitoring should be strictly implemented by the General Services Office to put an end to the abusive use of government vehicles by some crooked officials and employees.

"There are reports that some employees use their issued vehicles for personal use and if not them, used by somebody else either related to them or a friend of theirs," Jordana said.

Jordana, however, refused to drop names on who these people are using government vehicles after office hours, seen either within the city or on out-of-town trips.

The resolution of Jordana, however, exempts the vehicles of the Office of the Mayor and Vice Mayor, department heads entailing exigency in their nature of duty, as well as those vehicles serviced in the barangays.

In a separate interview, the chairman of the committee on city property, Jo Florence Bas said the committee will soon be rendering a report before the council on the marking of all city vehicles with "For Official Use Only."

Some of the government vehicles in the city were not labeled "For Official Use Only." Bas said the markings will be implemented on all government vehicles as provided in the manual audit for fuel consumption on government vehicles of the Land Transportation Office.

Presidential Decree 733, Section 13, also states that, "all vehicles owned by the government are required to be kept in the garage provided by the bureau of office or entity to which these belong except when in use for strictly official business outside office hours."

A house bill filed recently by Rep. Robert Barbers of Surigao del Norte would strictly limit the use of government cars and impose penalties on officials who violate the restrictions.

Barbers' bill would make it illegal to use government cars on non-working days and holidays. It also proposes that reimbursement for fuel and maintenance be given to officials and employees only for cars officially assigned to them. If the car is not properly marked and registered, no expenses shall be reimbursed.

Barbers says all vehicles should be marked "For Official Use Only" in bold letters together with the name of the agency to which they are assigned. The bill also calls for a moratorium on the purchase of new government cars. - Garry B. Lao