Rama shuns red plate campaign, trip tickets

Requiring trip tickets before a government vehicle can be used is “impractical” and “counterproductive”, said Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama.

The Commission on Audit (COA) has called the city’s attention on unfilled trip tickets in its 2011 audit report.

“We (elected officials) are made to do so much but that (regulation) will not result in better service. The most important thing is the output,” he said.

He cited as example an elected official in barangay Guadalupe who needs to bring a child to school located along Gorordo Avenue.

“Because of the prohibition on the use of government vehicle for unofficial travel, that fficial will have to use his private vehicle in sending his child to school and later go back home to get his city issued vehicle on his way to city hall,” he explained.

It cannot also be avoided that elected officials will have to take their city issued vehicles to gatherings organized by their constituents like a beach party.

“Part of public service is to reach out to the constituents. If we do not honor invitation to a beach party for example, they will feel we are indifferent,” he said.

Rama said there is so much “mistrust” on elected officials.

Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol and LTO regional director Raul Aguilos reminded elected officials during a media forum last Friday of their Oplan Red Plate campaign.

Rama said he does not oppose to using red plates and putting the markings “for official use only” on government vehicles. But he does not also see anything wrong with his use of a vanity plate with imprints “mayor” on his Toyota Grandia service vehicle.

Vehicles for allies

Meanwhile, Rama gave out 10 brand new vehicles to barangay officials who are his allies yesterday.

He however clarified these vehicles are not for their personal use but for “the utilization of the barangays.”

Rama said that the Memorandum Receipt for the vehicles will be issued to  two allied barangay captains and the eight councilors.  Like the other barangay vehicles, the city government will also be providing fuel allocation for the new vehicles.

Asked why he chose to issue the MR to the eight ally councilors instead of their respective barangay captains, he replied: “obvious ba?”

The vehicles went to the following:

Budlaan barangay captain Nerissa Antolihao – Toyota Hilux; Tinago barangay captain Domingo Lopez – Toyota Hilux; Quiot councilor Paul Sabarre – Toyota Hilux; Cogon Pardo councilor Orvilla Bacalso – Mitsubishi Fuzion; Labangon councilor Rudolfo Tabasa – Toyota Hilux; Pahina San Nicolas councilor John Paul Go – Toyota Hilux; Talamban Councilor Ronald Caminade – Toyota Innova; Poblacion Pardo councilor Altea Lim – Mitsubishi Fuzion; Kasambagan councilor George Chang – Toyota Hilux; and Toong councilor Eugen Tabas – Mitsubishi Strada. Doris C. Bongcac and Edison delos Angeles