MMDA spent P1 million on tarpaulins - COA

MANILA, Philippines - The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority spent nearly P1 million on tarpaulins bearing MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando’s face in 2008, according to a report by the Commission on Audit (COA) released earlier this month.

Fernando, however, during a conference when the COA presented its findings to him late last year, said the tarpaulins were supposed to grab the public’s attention and promote order in the metropolis.

“He (Fernando) added that his picture on the tarpaulin is free of charge, whereas, had the MMDA contracted an actress, like Marian Rivera, the agency would have spent P5 million just for one shot,” the report said.

The COA report on the operations of the MMDA in 2008 tagged as an “unnecessary expenditure” the P937,059.19 spent by the agency for the printing of 1,178 tarpaulins bearing the message “Kaayusan” with Fernando’s photo.

When state auditors inspected the materials, Fernando’s image covered 55 percent of the whole area of each of the tarpaulins, while the actual printed text only covered 45 percent.

According to state auditors, the tarpaulins “gave the impression that the main focus of the tarpaulin was on the agency head.”

“The printing of the picture of the agency official can be dispensed with without diminishing the value of the printed message,” the COA report said.

State auditors also quoted Fernando as saying that the MMDA’s tarpaulins were aimed at promoting to each resident of the metropolis “how to use his city.”

State auditors mentioned that displaying his image on the tarpaulins appeared to have backfired on Fernando since some saw it as the MMDA chief’s “earlier manifestation of running in the 2010 presidential election.”

But to Fernando, the MMDA was “able to create a sense of order” among those in Metro Manila through the tarpaulins.