Congressmen’s infra inspection “not a junket”
IT was not a junket. It was congressional caravan for inspection of infra projects to see where government funds are spent.
This was stressed by House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas who led the congressional caravan when they arrived in Dagupan hosted by the De Venecia family at their residence in Barangay Bonuan Binloc on June 5 after their trip in Baguio City.
Alvarez told local newsmen that it was the first time that an inspection tour happened in the history of House of Representatives.
“Basically it was my idea and the majority floor leader’s… every time we prepare our budget for next year, we also have to see personally the condition of provinces so that we would know what is really needed, if government funds are spent properly,” Alvarez said.
However, he said their caravan infrastructure trip to Visayas may no longer happen since it’s the time for budget preparation.
The infrastructure inspection was from June 1 to 6.
Meanwhile, Fariñas said the 30-vehicle caravan trip was not a junket. “Imagine, we congressmen, governors, mayors ride buses. If this is junket, we should have used airplanes instead,” he said.
“So this is not junket. You could just see our sacrifices. We are riding buses,” he added.
“This is innovative. What Speaker Alvarez wants is we go around so we would see what the country needs,” Fariñas said.
From Pangasinan, they proceeded to Subic, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan and back to Manila.
Former five-time House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., former Rep. Gina de Venecia and their son, Fourth District Rep. Christopher de Venecia hosted more than 80 congressmen and their staff.
With the group were Reps. Leopoldo Bataoil, Rose Marie Arenas, Marlyn Primicias- Agabas and Conrado Estrella III of Abono partylist.
Former House Speaker Jose de Venecia said the gathering and working together of congressmen “would signal the beginnings of a government of national unity in the Philippines under President Duterte”. (Tita Roces)
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