PAMPANGA

Pampanga gov issues EOs to boost coffers; vice gov refuses any designation
BY GEORGE TRILLO

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – Priest-turned-politician Fr. Eddie Panlilio issued two executive orders last week to strengthen local tax collections and created a body to oversee the lucrative but controversial lahar sand quarrying operations.

This, as re-elected Vice Gov. Joseller Guiao reiterated his earlier statement that he would not accept any special designation from Panlilio to maintain his “independence” in the provincial government.
Newly designated provincial information officer Roperlee Syquia said the executive order on lahar quarrying also created a body called “Biyaya a Luluguran at Sisikapan” or Balas, which literally means “grace to love and work on,” which will oversee lahar sand mining in this province.

Sand quarrying operations in this province had been controversial amid allegations of anomalies that led to the suspension of former governor Lito Lapid and various administrative and criminal cases against the latter’s son, former governor Mark Lapid, whom Panlilio defeated in the last polls.

On the other hand, the executive order on local taxes was meant to address the huge amount of real property taxes owed by the municipal and city governments to the provincial government.

Panlilio urged provincial government employees to work hard for the people. He met heads of departments of the provincial government who briefed him on their operations.

“He also told them about the do’s and don’ts. He said he wanted employees to work eight hours a day and refrain from activities such as manicuring or gossiping during office hours,” Syquia said.

This, even as provincial police director Senior Supt. Keith Singian downplayed threats to the safety of Panlilio who, during the campaign period, took to wearing bullet proofs vest and slept in various safehouses.

“We are continuously updating ourselves on his security concerns but I don’t think there is any serious threat to his safety,” Singian said.

He noted that when Panlilio was sworn into office as governor on June 30, he was no longer wearing his vest life.

“As for his hopping from one safehouse to another for overnight stays, I suppose it’s now more of the fact that Fr. Panlilio does not really have a place of his own,” he said.

Singian said that negotiations are under way for an official residence for the new governor at the Clark Freeport.

Meanwhile, as he left office, former Pampanga governor Mark Lapid left the provincial coffers some P490.34 million.

Of this amount, provincial treasurer Vergel Yabut said the general fund amounts to P395.854 million the special education fund is P11.60 million, the trust fund for hospitals is P48.97 million and the unappropriated balance amounts to P130 million.

Yabut said the 20 percent development fund intended for infrastructure projects for 2007 is still intact.


Media people assail Pampanga official for curtailing coverage
BY MAR T. SUPNAD

SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga – Members of Pampanga media denounced the alleged high-handedness and discriminatory attitude of Pampanga Provincial Administrator Vivian Dabu towards them, complaining they were barred from fully covering the events at the capitol during the first day in office of Gov. Eddie T. Panlilio.

The media people who complained against the official were former Pampanga Press Club president Chris Navarro of Sun-star Pampanga, Jojo Due of Pampanga, News, and Romy Barredo of Radio DZME.

They said they were prevented by Dabu from entering the second floor of the capitol building when they tried to get a report on the entry of Panlilio to the governor’s office.

“I don’t think you need to cover this,” Dabu told them. The media people issued a manifesto denouncing the accusations of Dabu.

The journalists who signed include Ric Sapnu, President of the Camp Olivas Press Club, Ashley Manabat, chairman of the Pampanga Chapter of the Union of Journalist of the Philippines; Diosdado Pangilinan, president of the Pampanga Press Club; Ceasar Lacson, chairman of Pampanga Society of Columnists; and George Hubierna, vice chairman of the Central Luzon Media Association.

They stated in the strongly worded manifesto that Dabu has no business telling media men what to cover or what to cover. “This is prior restraint which is anathema to the freedom of the press,” they said.