Gwen notebooks to be released

PRESSED for time and the high cost of wrapping the notebooks sporting the face of a politician, Acting Gov. Agnes Magpale is giving the green light for the distribution of the Capitol-funded school supplies.

The acting governor yesterday asked the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas to relax the prohibition on the inclusion of names, initials, images or pictures of government officials in billboards and signage on government programs, projects and properties as provided in Circular no. 2010-11, in order to facilitate the distribution of thousands of notebooks with the face of suspended Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia on the cover.

In her letter to Secretary Roxas, Magpale said that “due to budget and time constraints, reformatting the cover of notebooks are rendered impractical and a further wastage of public funds.”

“As soon as I get the response of DILG, we will distribute the notebooks as is. Hopefully, this week because I’m expecting a reply anytime today or tomorrow,” she added.

Wth the opening of classes on June 3, Magpale said she wants the distribution done through the Department of Education (DepEd) offices around the province instead of giving it to the mayors.

Magpale presented a sample of the notebooks with revised covers, but said doing it is very expensive.

The painting, will cost the provincial government another P4 million.

Instead of spending that money funds, Magpale said “maka build na ta ug classrooms niana.”

(We can build classrooms with that amount.)

The items are currently stored in the Capitol warehouse.

The supplies were purchased using Capitol funds amounting P19,358,859 by the suspended governor.

Magpale was elected vice governor in the May 13 election. Garcia was elected representative of Cebu’s 3rd district. Her six-month suspension ends on June 18.