Pabling wants P55M released to towns, brgys

CEBU, Philippines - Instead of giving the P55 million to Dumanjug town, Rep. Pablo Garcia (2nd district, Cebu) now asked that this be distributed to the different municipalities and barangays in his district.

Garcia sent the letter to acting provincial treasurer Emmanuel Quial amid the “reluctance and virtual refusal” of acting governor Agnes Magpale to release the amount which is part of his Priority Development Assistance Fund deposited as trust fund of the Cebu Provincial Government.

Garcia said he will release the funds to local government units in the second district such as municipalities and barangays requesting for financial assistance.

Yesterday the barangay officials of Casay, Dalaguete requested financial assistance for their water works system which Garcia approved the amount of P350,000.  Garcia will request the office of the Provincial Treasurer for disbursement of funds in accordance with the request of the LGU.

He said the normal practice was that the governor signs the check and turnover it to him for distribution to the requesting LGUs.

“If she (Magpale) will be the one to distribute the check, it’s alright,” Garcia said.

In a press conference, Garcia said that he requested for the cancellation due to mistaken belief of Magpale that it is solely intended for Dumanjug, whose mayor, Nelson Garcia, is his son.

Garcia said that when he requested on December 14, 2012 for the release of the P55 million check, he stated in his letter to then provincial treasurer Roy Salubre that it will be distributed to different LGUs in the district.

He said that even his predecessor, former Rep. Simeon Kintanar, practiced it when he deposited the funds in his town of Argao.

  As a procedure, the congressman will communicate for the release of a certain amount to the treasurer who will check if it is authorized in the Special Allotment Release Order.

“There is no danger on the part of acting governor,” Garcia said.

But Magpale’s consultant, lawyer Dara Acusar, said that still they cannot release the check since it is not in accordance with the SARO.

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad in his letter dated February 15, 2013 clarified some queries of Magpale.

Accordingly, the Province of Cebu as administrator of the fund is responsible in ensuring that the disbursement is consistent with the purposes specified by the proponent legislator.

Abad also noted that Garcia, as the proponent legislator, is the one authorized to identify the beneficiaries as well as he development programs and projects to be charged against the PDAF.

The Province of Cebu, as the implementing agency, is the one responsible for the disbursement consistent with the specified purpose and the local chief executive has the authority to plan and or manage the disbursement thereof.

Abad further said that Garcia can direct the disbursement of the entire PDAF allocation exclusively in the case of Dumanjug as earlier requested. — /MBG (FREEMAN)