Despite DILG memo: 30 SK officials attend Baguio summer camp

CEBU, Philippines -Despite the memorandum circular issued by the Department of the Interior and Local Government enjoining local government officials to avoid holding trainings and seminars outside their territorial jurisdictions, at least 30 Sangguniang Kabataan officials from Cebu City attended a five-day environmental summer camp in Baguio City causing almost half million pesos of public funds.

The travel was immediately defended by Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, who said that it was not a waste of government fund. Rama said that the Cebu City contingent to the Youth Summer Camp in Baguio City is covered with the joint memorandum circular between the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the DILG.

The five-day event held at the Teachers’ Camp in Baguio started yesterday. About 3,000 delegates from all over the country are expected to attend this year’s summer camp.

According to Rama, there is nothing wrong with Cebu City SK officials joining the activity.

The Mayor pointed out that under the DILG memorandum, study tours or similar activities may still be held outside the respective geographical island group provided that the places to be visited are included in the Galing Pook Foundation’s list of LGUs or other institutions that are recognized for observing best practices in governance.

“Ang pinakabati siguro kung ang ilang pag-adto sa Baguio mao ang pagsuroy-suroy, pag-usik-usik sa kwarta kana that should be absolutely be stopped pero ang ilang pag-attend sa Summer Camp has been there for almost 10 years na,” Rama said.

Rama vowed to defend the SK officials’ travel to Baguio should the Commission on Audit disallows it.

Cebu City SK Federation president John Philip Po said theparticipating SK presidents and councilors were asked to prepare P15,000 each to defray for their travel expenses.

The amount will be charged to their respectively barangay SK funds. The P15,000 covers the registration fee of P5,500, which includes theiraccommodation, meals, T-shirts and training kits. The remaining P9,500 will be for the airfare and other incidental expenses.

Po assured that their travel to Baguio is not a junket. — (FREEMAN)