Pampanga provincial board frowns on Panlilio's request for blanket powers on deals

BY GEORGE TRILLO

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga -- Members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan here frowned on the request of priest-turned-politician Gov. Eddie Panlilio for “blanket authority” to enter into official deals.

Vice Gov. Joseller Guiao said in a meeting with SP members on July 16, Panlilio clarified his request for blanket authority to enter into official agreements was intended to cover only “donations from foreign and local sources willing to help the province.”

“But he has not withdrawn his formal letter to me, which clearly asked for a blanket authority to enter into memorandum of agreements, contracts, deeds of donations, and other transactions,” Guiao said.

Panlilio’s formal letter last week to Guiao, who is presiding officer of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, said “in order for me to effectively carry out my duties, I shall need fully authority to enter into memorandum of agreement, contracts, deeds of donation, and any other transaction for the benefit of the province.”

“In this regard, may I request for the passage of a resolution granting me blanket authority to sign said contracts, memoranda, and/or deeds in order to facilitate the proposed resolution for your consideration,” Panlilio said in the letter.

On July 16, however, Panlilio issued a statement to the media saying “the scope of the request does not include purchase of property or the like, which involves bidding or expropriation but merely to ask for fully authority to enter into negotiations for acceptance of donations from foreign and local sources willing to help the province. The sole intent is to expedite transactions with donors so that services such as healthcare may be brought faster to the people.”

Guiao said Panlilio’s formal letter on the blanket authority issue negated the checks and balance principle between the executive and legislative branches of the provincial government and would be tantamount to reneging on the SP’s oversight functions.

He said Panlilio’s formal letter clearly indicated the request was for a blanket authority to sign agreements not only in regard to donations.

The SP will meet next week to tackle the formal request.

“Unless and until the formal request is formally withdrawn and altered, it will stand for consideration as it is by the SP,” he added.

In his statement, Panlilio said, “It is but a request, and may be granted or not by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. If in any case they do, however, with this authority comes accountability to the people. Parameters and a monitoring system may be discussed and set with the board, so as to maintain transparency to the public.”

Meanwhile, Panlilio’s information office came out with a report titled “Heal Pampanga,” which identified health, education and livelihood as priorities for his first 100 days in office. It specifically cited plans for nine district hospitals and one provincial hospital.