Bagoong Festival committee has yet to liquidate funds
LINGAYEN—In addition to Dagupan, the demand for transparency and accountability in the handling of public funds for festivals is also being pressed in Lingayen.
More than a month after the joint Lingayen Town Fiesta and Bagoong Festival was held, the committee that handled the activity has yet to liquidate the funds allocated for the twin events.
The three chairmen of the events’ main committees — Municipal Accountant Nelson Gumapos, former councilor and now Municipal Civil Registrar Jojo Lopez, and Human Resources Management Officer Raul Ungson — have been invited twice by the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) for an inquiry but failed on both occasions to present a financial report with sufficient supporting documents.
Councilor Judy Ann Vargas said, “I am not pointing finger at anyone, gusto ko lang po mapatunayan yung transparency na sinasabi.”
On the second invitation during the February 11 SB session, only Lopez and Ungson were present, during which they said they have no knowledge on the event’s finances and that Gumapos, being an accountant, was the one in charge of it.
“May kanya-kanya po kaming ginagawa,” said Lopez, explaining that he was in charge only of the parade while Ungson handled the trade fair.
Vargas, however, pointed out that there seemed to be no check and balance among the committees as the chairmen themselves insisted that they know nothing of the finances.
Vargas, author of the resolution designating bagoong (fish sauce) as Lingayen’s one town, one product (OTOP), disclosed that the Bagoong Festival, now on its third year, has an allocation of P500,000.
For the Lingayen Town Fiesta, there was reportedly no specific allocation.
The joint celebration started December 7, 2013 and lasted until January 15, 2014, with Mayor Josefina Castaneda as the executive chairman.
“We just want to know the allocations para maayos at malinis… para next year mas maayos,” Vargas stressed.
The SB invited anew the three key persons along with Municipal Administrator Lydia Pioquinto for the continuation of the inquiry during their next board session on February 18.–Johanne R. Macob
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