DILG: Pasig City officials were able to justify Boracay trip

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Monday cleared the Pasig City government of any liability for its sponsorship of a three-day workshop seminar for 330 barangay (village) officials in Boracay in February.

“For us, they have been cleared of any violation in relation to the conduct of the said seminar. But it is still up to [Interior] Secretary [Jesse] Robredo if he would still like to ensure the judicious disbursement of public funds,” Renato Brion, DILG Metro Manila director, said in a phone interview.

According to Brion, he submitted a report to Robredo after he talked to Pasig Mayor Bobby Eusebio and other officials, including the president of the Liga ng mga Barangay.

Robredo earlier ordered a probe of the Boracay seminar, saying he had issued a memorandum circular discouraging local government units from conducting out-of-town seminars.

“There was a cost-sharing during that trip, according to Mayor Eusebio. The air fare was shouldered by the barangay officials while the per diem came from the city government,” Brion said.

He added that Eusebio had reasoned out that it was necessary for them to see examples of environmental and tourism projects in other areas so that they could adapt it to the city’s “green program.”

Asked why they chose Boracay, the top beach destination in the country, Brion said this was not discussed in his talk with the city officials.