2013 city fiesta committee report lauded

By April 13, 2014Inside News, News

A MEMBER of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) commended the executive committee of the Dagupan City fiesta 2013 headed by Atty. Liberato “Ope” Reyna Jr. for submitting and publishing the financial report on the income and expenses of the December event.

Councilor Jeslito Seen noted that this was the first time such a financial report was published by the committee who handled the fiesta over the past years.

“Atty. Reyna and the committee showed an example that should be followed by those who will manage the future festivals in the city,” Seen said.

“They have shown transparency and accountability in handling the fiesta funds in the same manner that the administration of Mayor Belen Fernandez is striving to achieve in all areas of governance,” he added.

The 2013 Dagupan City fiesta report was published in The Sunday PUNCH April 6-12 issue containing a statement of income and expenditures, including the accomplishments and recommendations of the fiesta committee.

It was only during the 2013 fiesta that the executive committee did not receive any financial assistance from the city government and used only donations and income from the baratillo.

From part of the donations, the executive committee was able to finance the fiesta events as well as the renovation of the clam-shape stage of the city plaza.

Upon assumption of office, Fernandez stopped the practice of the city government of giving subsidies to fiestas and festivals which is not allowed by the Commission on Audit (COA).

During the administration of former Mayor Benjamin Lim, fiesta and festival committees were given subsidies of no lower P3 million each and were also benefiting from the baratillo income which amounts to as much as P2.5 million.

Past fiesta and festival executive committees have yet to fully liquidate the funds released and earned.

Seen said he will propose a resolution commending the report of the 2013 city fiesta committee on the next session of the SP.

NO LIQUIDATION REPORTS

Meanwhile, the recent report of City Auditor Virgilio Quinto confirmed that previous heads of executive committees that managed past fiestas and Bangus Festivals have not fully accounted for funds released to them by the city government and income earned from the activities.

It will be recalled that the blue ribbon committee of the SP had endorsed the investigation on the complaint of PUNCH publisher-editor Ermin Garcia Jr. against some members of the legislative body who handled the city fiesta in previous years, to the COA.

Councilor Jose Netu Tamayo said the blue ribbon committee decided to endorse the investigation to COA on the unliquidated fiesta funds.

“It would not look good for us to investigate because certain persons in the complaint are part of the SP. There will always be a question on our credibility. If the result of our investigation would say that they are guilty, some would say that because they are part of the minority but if we acquit them for example some might say that its because they are SP members,” Tamayo explained.

Among the past committee chair are incumbent Vice Mayor Brian Lim and Councilors Guillermo Vallejos,  Redford Erfe Mejia and Alvin Coquia who chaired Bangus Festivals and Dagupan City Fiesta in different times during the administration of former Mayor Benjamin Lim, father of Brian.

Meanwhile, the other complaints against former city officials contained in Garcia’s letter have been endorsed by the blue ribbon committee to the city legal office which is expected to endorse the same to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for further investigation.—Dada Austria and LVM

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