Reviewing transactions
The Cebu Provincial Board’s review of a budget outlay for the acquisition of lots for an ongoing road-widening project in Consolacion town came amid the deferment of an ordinance that would impose stricter guidelines in the review and approval of funds for Capitol transactions, particularly those that involve real property purchases.
That’s the official line of Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale, who said they’ve been reviewing the P21 million appropriation for lots affected by the ongoing project because they don’t want a repeat of the 2008 Balili property purchase that resulted in the loss of P98.9 million from the Capitol coffers.
The ordinance and the PB’s belated concern on reviewing transactions may seem like so much hand-washing for some considering that most, if not all current PB members were present when the Balili property purchase was deliberated on.
That deferred PB ordinance had a “legislative cousin” of sorts in the Cebu City Council who passed a measure that prohibits the mayor from engaging in deals with personalities on the South Road Properties (SRP).
The ordinance understandably peeved Mayor Michael Rama, who was all too eager to sell lots in Cebu City’s prime real estate cash cow if only to fund his ambitious multi-billion peso budget that consists of massive infrastructure programs like the much-delayed drainage master plan.
Both ordinances were introduced with noble intentions but had an undeniably strong political undercurent.
The Cebu City Council ordinance was more pronounced since most of the members are beholden to Rep. Tomas Osmeña of the south district.
In the PB’s case, a meticulous review of transactions should have been done from the start.
This would have avoided controversial cases like the rushed construction of the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) for the 2007 ASEAN Summit and the overpriced purchase of lampposts, both of which were done in coordination with the national government.
Is such an ordinance really necessary for the PB which is governed supposedly by persons with above average intellect and utmost circumspection?
Does it serve as a reminder for PB members to always review transactions regardless of their current political affiliations?
The same can be said of the council, whom we hope will not annul their current SRP ordinance in case their benefactor does win the mayorship in next year’s elections.
If officials in Cebu City and the province really want transactions to be above board, they shouldn’t hesitate to have them examined for pre-audit by the Commission on Audit (COA) which is supposed to be shielded from local politics so that they can do an honest-to-goodness, unbiased review of these deals.
