FROM SAVINGS, SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET

FOR official use only.

This was stressed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) members after they each received last week a brand new Ford Everest 2011 model, a luxury sports utility vehicle that cost the provincial government P26 million for the lot.

Board Member Alfonso Bince Jr., the longest serving in the board, said that in his more than 20 years of service, this is the only time that the provincial government provided service vehicles for the SP members.

The vehicles were bought by the provincial government from its savings in the capital outlay and from a portion of the supplemental budget.

Bince said the vehicles are strictly for official use and that travels outside of the province using the issued SUVs are required to to be logged. The governor’s office, however, did not clarify the restrictions for the vehicle’s use.

Governor Amado Espino Jr., Bince said, gave strict instructions that the vehicles would not be used for personal trips.

He added that after the term of the incumbent members, the vehicles would be turned over to their successors.

“On loan lang ang mga sasakyan sa mga board members, pagkatapos ng kanilang term, iiwanan nila ang mga ito para magamit ng  susunod,” said Bince.

Bince added that two doors of the vehicle will bear the seal of the province

VISITING THE COMMUNITIES

For his part, Vice Governor Ferdinand Calimlim, chair of the provincial board, said Espino approved the purchase of the vehicles so that the board members can further help in pushing forward the provincial government’s programs by being able to reach out to the people in their respective districts.

Calimlim said the governor wants them not just to legislate laws but to go out and be in touch with the communities.

Board Member Jeremy Rosario pointed out that the choice of a special utility vehicle as service cars are intended for being able to reach the remote areas in the province which could require crossing rivers, climbing mountains and traveling on rugged roads.

P16 MILLION

The P16 million fund used for the 14 vehicles came from savings in the provincial budget last year, Bince explained,  plus a supplemental budget of P10 million.

“Because of the judicious use of funds by the Espino administration, we realized savings that can be used for the purpose,” he said.

The P16 million savings from capital outlay from last year’s operation was boosted by another P10 million, which was part of the P83 million supplemental budget approved by the board in January this year.

The rest of the supplemental budget, amounting to P73 million, was used as collateral by the province for the proposed P100 million loan to be extended by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to cooperatives in Pangasinan.

Bince also stressed that the current provincial administration first prioritized the purchase of two ambulances for each of the 14 government hospitals, seven shuttle buses for employees and visitors, and then service vehicles for the various departments and also for DepEd offices.

“We are actually the last to benefit from such purchases,” he said, adding that the governor has not appropriated for himself an official vehicle.

Bince admitted that the request for the service vehicles was already made during the governor’s first term in 2007 , but the latter turned down the request and gave priority to social programs and infrastructure.

“Ang sa amin naman, bigyan sana kami ng konting understanding. Nagagawa naman namin ang aming mga trabaho, kung wala sana kaming nagagawa, e seguro mag-complain sila,” he added

Bince said the gasoline for the vehicles will come from the provincial board members’ representation and traveling allowance (RATA) of P13,000 and P6,500. transportation allowance

The board members already have a driver each under their official staff.

Rosario also said that the service vehicles are actually a “non-issue” as these are owned by the provincial government.

Rosario cited that these vehicles “are long overdue” because ever since his father, the late Agerico Rosario, and his brother John Agerico Rosario were provincial board members, requests for service vehicles have been repeatedly denied.

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