DDB beneficiaries must account

By Bebot Villar

 

AS Chairman of the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) for six (6) years, I made it a point that construction of drug rehabilitation centers and facilities are facilitated with grants from DDB in order that drug dependents can be served efficiently and well.

Unknown perhaps to many, these funds are drawn from a special fund account sourced from contributions of PAGCOR, PCSO and other institutions.

Dahil ang perang binibigay ng DDB ay mula sa kaban ng bayan, narararapat din na hingan ng liquidation reports ang mga nabiyayaan nito. Nakakahiya naman sa taong bayan at taxpayers kung hindi gawing obligasyon na isumite sa kinauukulan kung paano ginamit ang pondong pang gobyerno!

Most of our beneficiaries submit their respective liquidation reports on time, which makes it easier for us in the DDB to assist them again in other aspects of the treatment and rehabilitation process. If they have other proposals for financial assistance, no problem, as long as they continue to submit their liquidation reports properly and on time! Sa ating inspection na ginawa sa mga rehab centers na ito, makikitang lubos na nakinabang ang mga drug dependents sa mga pasilidad na naitayo dahil sa tulong ng DDB. Pati ang komunidad ay natutulungan dahil hindi na sila mahihirapan sa pagdala sa kanilang mga pasyente at may malapit na rehab center.

The problem with some LGUs na nakinabang na nga sa pondo ng gobyerno thru DDB, they still have not submitted their liquidation reports! Sa mga nangangasiwa sa mga pasilidad na ito, mahiya naman kayo! We have our obligation to inform taxpayers how we utilized public funds!

Huwag sana kayo magbulag–bulagan o magbingi–bingihan kung paulit–ulit kayong pinapaaalahanan sa pag-sumite ng liquidation reports. Baka sa inyong pagkalimot sa inyong obligasyon ay maging dahilan pa ito sa pagpunta nyo sa korte?

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The P 6.5 Billion allocation from the 2016 General Appropriations Act for the maintenance and rehabilitation of our country’s provincial road network is a big boost to our country’s infrastructure. The fund will be used by 73 provinces that met the “good governance standards, social development benchmarks and monitoring and evaluation mechanisms” criteria of the Department of Budget and Management.

According to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), “provincial roads are the largest and important assets being managed by local governments.” Subalit, hindi gaanong napapansin ang mga provincial roads dahil ang atensyon ay nasa national roads.

Mapapansin natin na kaliwa’t kanan ang mga pagpapagawa at pagpapaayos ng mga national roads, subalit madalang naman ang improvement ng provincial roads. Malamang kulang din sa budget ang ibang local government units kaya hindi nila masyado nabibigyan ng pondo ang pagpapaayos ng provincial roads.

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Dapat bantayan nang mabuti ng DPWH ang pondong ito para maiwasan, o kaya mabawasan man lang, ang korupsyon. The Government Procurement Reform Act should be followed, not only for the sake of ease in implementing government projects but also for the purpose of avoiding legal problems in the future!

Kapag may proper bidding, mailalayo ang oportunidad na pagpiyestahan ng “fly by night contractors” at ng kanilang insiders sa gobyerno. Hindi basta–basta ang requirements sa proper and regular bidding kaya mahihirapan ang mga “contractors kuno” na makalusot dito!

Isa pa, nariyan din ang splitting of contracts na ginagawa ng iilan para maiwasan ang proper bidding. The so–called “pseudo–contractors” and their padrinos make a killing using this modus. These so–so contractors only borrow equipment and other implements from legitimate contractors, for the reason that they do not have equipment of their own! Dahil sa modus na ito, malaking pondo ang nakukurakot ng mga tiwali!

Unahin natin ang kapakanan ng mga tao na siyang gagamit sa mga daan na ito at huwag gamitin ang pondong ito sa pulitika!

(For your comments and reactions, please email to: punch.sunday@gmail.com)

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