EDITORIAL

World Bank puts squeeze on government over ‘anomalous’ Halsema road projects

If the World Bank suspended release of $ 232-million loan to the Philippine government for implementation of the remaining two phases of the controversial Halsema Road rehabilitation project following reports of irregularities and anomalies in its implementation, blame it on implementors

Substandard works, irregularity in bidding among others have been the objects of gripes by constituents. This, as the action of President Macapagal Arroyo on the issue of initiating dismissal proceedings against regional and provincial Highways officials involved in the implementation of the “anomalous” P600 million Mt. Data-Bontoc Road project is still being awaited.

It took a foreign entity like the WB to make the government realize that public funds should be well accounted for in relation to road projects like the Halsema Highway. With the WB’s action, a deeper probe on the road anomalies should be done and those responsible should be identified, charged and prosecuted.

A deeper probe on alleged Halsema project anomalies could be made by the government as a showcase that it is cleaning itself of scalawags and misfits and that corruption has no place in society.


Views from Ilocos Region officials on ‘Christmas cash gifts’ in Malacanang

Call it old hat, but unless issues particularly those concerning government are addressed, these won’t go away, like the controversial cash gifts at Malacanang. The chairman of the Region I Development Council recently lamented the "unwarranted controversy caused by the distribution of cash gifts to congressmen and provincial officials in Malacañang.

Salvador T. Duque, president of the Association of Private Schools, Colleges and Universities of Region I, said "granting that the cash gifts came from the President, she is expected to be generous, give cash gifts freely to the poor and even all sectors of society. It’s realpolitik, and it would be unnatural and unreal if she is stingy, selfish, and unreachable by poor people.’’

Erlinda Estonactoc, a top APSCU official in La Union, shared Duque’s view, saying "probably, it was the timing of the cash-gift giving that stirred up the controversy, but I could not see anything wrong with it. There was no bribery. If it were bribery, the congressmen would not have accepted the cash gifts. To accuse the President of wrong-doing due to her generosity is stretching the point. Cash gifts "should be viewed from the standpoint of history, tradition, and accepted practice by former presidents and political leaders.’’

More from Duque: "It is inappropriate for any one to talk of impeaching the President because of these cash gifts, and on the other hand, she should be commended for doing so. Even the good book, the Bible says ‘it’s better to give than to receive,’ on Christmas, we give gifts as a matter of tradition. Local officials usually ask for projects – new roads, bridges and municipal buildings, etceteras – to the tune of millions of pesos, and the Office of the President gives fund releases as part of the ordinary course of events,’’ adding "the President leads in generosity in answer to people’s request, and it’s part of the power and authority vested in the President.’’

According to Duque, “The President, being a daughter of a former President of the Philippines, is familiar with realpolitik, and giving is inherent in the Office of the President. They’re what public servants are for. In a democracy, people want to see their leaders attend to their constituents and provide for their needs. It would be abnormal if the leader ignores the people and their needs as all presidents know their obligations to their constituents, and they have social funds authorized by law and tradition. Congressmen are also authorized to receive cash gifts for their constituents and for their district offices which are the center of the processing requests for assistance in urgent needs such funeral, medical, dental, food, and others."

The issue of whether it was the Office of the President, the League of Governors or the Kampi gave the cash gifts has not yet been resolved. Officials have gone overboard in trying to make the controversy die down and stretched their rationalization beyond imagination. Public funds are public funds and these have to be accounted properly. If the funds were “private,” then the giver must have had a big heart.