LGUs complain of ‘overlapping’ roles of provincial units of DOST, other line dep’ts — Marcos

Screenshot of DOST Sec. Fortunato dela Peña during the Senate hearing of the Committee on Science and Technology joint with Civil Service, Government Reorganization and Professional Regulation; and Finance.

MANILA, Philippines — Several local government units (LGUs) have complained that the role of provincial offices of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) overlaps with other government agencies, Senator Imee Marcos said Thursday.

During a hearing on Senate Bill No. 1350 and 887 that would upgrade the position of the provincial science and technology officer into provincial science director, Marcos said LGUs have pointed out that the role of DOST’s provincial science and technology offices overlaps with that of other units of the Departments of Agriculture, and Trade and Industry.

“‘Yung nirereklamo sa amin, kasi halimbawa ‘yung mga LGU nagrereklamo kasi sabi nila, ‘yung DA, may tao naman ‘yung DA. Kung tungkol sa science, may agricultural officer naman daw,” she told DOST Secretary Fortunato de la Peña who was also present in the hearing.

(Other LGUs complain to us and say DA has people who are experts in science, for instance an agricultural officer.)

“Para sa DOST, may Pagasa at Phivolcs. ‘Yung silang dalawa ang nararamdaman, pero kung dadagdagan pa ano daw ‘yung papel noon (provincial science and technology offices) tapos ‘yung DTI meron din naman processing, so ‘yun ang nakikita namin na parang ang DOST nagpaprocessing nga, pero sapaw din sa DTI. Sapaw din sa DA. Medyo bakit nandyan sila, ano ba ang ginagawa nila?” she asked de la Peña.

(For DOST, Pagasa and Phivolcs can be felt by the public, but LGUs are asking about the role of provincial science and technology offices. DTI also has personnel for processing. DOST does the same but it overlaps with the role of DTI and DA. Why are they there, what are they doing?)

Further, Marcos also said that some LGUs have objected to the number of government personnel being imposed by the national government despite lack of budget and inaction from such staff.

“Laging objection ng LGUs na ini-impose ng national, pagkarami-raming staff na wala namang budget na hindi naman nakakapag-ikot, ni walang opisina, parang additional burden sa mga LGU and it erodes the financial autonomy that is legislated in the local government code,” she said.

(LGUs object to the number of staff being imposed by the national government even if they do not have enough budget, they cannot make rounds in the respective areas, and they do not have offices. So it becomes an additional budget to LGUs and erodes the financial autonomy that is legislated in the local government code.)

“So with all due respect, I am just here to play the devil’s advocate, kasi napakaraming provincial science and technology office na dahil siguro dahil sa kakulangan ng budget ng tauhan, ng maintenance and operating expenses, hindi naman nararamdaman kaya may reaksyon lang bakit daw palalawakin pa,” she added.

(So with all due respect, I am just here to play the devil’s advocate because there are a lot of provincial science and technology offices, that maybe because of lack of budget and personnel and maintenance and operating expenses, cannot be felt by the people that’s why others object why such offices should be expanded.)

However, de la Peña said LGUs might only have differing opinions. He said that other provincial governments even praise their respective DOST offices, and that perhaps only the provincial science and technology office in Ilocos Norte, Marcos’ hometown, is not performing well.

Marcos, in response, said she spoke with local government leaders from many provinces.

“Ang akin lamang importante kasi na nag-uugnayan ang lahat at wag overlapping ‘yung mga papel nila, kasi may DA, may DTI, ‘yun ang kilala ng tao. ‘Yung DOST, ang alam lang ‘yung Pagasa at Phivolcs sa totoo lang,” she added.

(My point is that the role of government agencies should not overlap, because there is DA and DTI which are more known by the people. As for the DOST, they only know about Pagasa and Phivolcs.)

De la Peña explained this is because provincial science and technology offices have few personnel compared to other agencies. Nevertheless, he assured that the funds being allocated for such offices are not being wasted.

“Hirap na hirap din kami kaya pabayaan po ninyong ipakita namin kung ano ang aming magagawa, at ako po ay makapagsasabi na walang nasasayang na kahit isang sentimo sa pera ng gobyerno sa ginagawa namin,” he said.

(We are also having a hard time, so allow us to show what we are doing. I can attest that no cent from government funds is being wasted in our efforts.)

EDV