Photo by Julliane Love de Jesus / INQUIRER.net
The controversial Christmas party of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) was a “morale-booster” for its employees after the agency reached record-high revenue in 2017, General Manager Alexander Balutan said before a House inquiry on Tuesday.
Facing the House good governance and public accountability committee hearing, Balutan and other PCSO officials defended the allegedly lavish Christmas party for PCSO employees. They admitted spending P6.4 million for the party last last Dec. 19.
For being able to reduce the approved budget of P14 million to P6.4 million, Balutan told the panel that it was “bare minimum” for PCSO employees, who he said mostly came from poor families.
“Siguro nga may karapatan din sila na kahit papano mamantikaan ‘yung nguso nila at katawan nila, makatikim naman ng aircon dahil mahihirap din po itong mga empleyado and they deserve that,” Balutan, a former Marine general, said.
“Kung titignan natin anong ginawa nila sa isang taon, ilang bilyon ang kanilang naiakyat so it’s a booster for the morale and welfare of our employees,” he said.
Asked by Camarines Sur third district Rep. Gabriel Bordado Jr. if spending P6.3 million for the party was appropriate, Balutan said: “I think considering our current situation, with ‘yung presyo po kasi ngayon medyo mataas na rin, I think it’s appropriate.”
PCSO board member Sandra Cam was also present in the hearing.
Cam showed to the committee, chaired by Surigao Del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel, documents from the PCSO detailing its expenses for the party.
Of the P10.6 million proposed budget for the event, documents showed that the PCSO spent P6.474 million.
Pimentel questioned the P16,389 the PCSO spent for the thanksgiving Mass held on the same day of the party.
“The chair agrees that this is a waste of government money. I can see that there has been a violation of existing laws. First, you can’t use government money to give to the Church,” he said. /cbb