STA. BARBARA–As the senate investigation on public works anomalies rages on, Senator Panfilo Lacson visited this small agricultural town last week to inaugurate classrooms that stand proof to honest governance.

Lacson, who came on the invitation of Mayor Reynaldo Velasco, hailed how the local government was able to construct classrooms at half the cost usually spent by the national government.

Using funds raised mostly by overseas residents of the town, five new classrooms were built at only about P250,000 each, almost 50 percent cheaper than the average P485,000 budget per classroom.

“If this is duplicated nationwide, there will be no corruption that makes pockets of thieves in government fat,” said Lacson.

Furthermore, the Sta. Barbara classrooms have better facilities, including an individual comfort room each.

“It’s really inspiring to see Sta. Barbara standing on its own,” said the senator, adding that he is now reconsidering the use of his annual P200 million Countrywide Development Fund to be used for local government projects using Velasco’s standards.

Lacson has consistently declined to utilize his CDF, also known as the pork barrel fund, reverting it to the national treasury since the 12th Congress after determining that it is a major source of corruption in government.

Velasco, meanwhile, said he invited Lacson, a classmate at the Philippine Military Academy, to show him how his administration is pursuing the senator’s crusade for good governance at the local level. #

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