Governor says issues raised answered, old

Camarines Sur Gov. Luis “LRay” Villafuerte Jr. said the questions raised by the Commission on Audit (COA) on the “Survivor” and marathon deals have been answered by the provincial government, calling these “recycled issues.”

“There are no revenues missing or unaccounted for,” said Villafuerte in a statement. “This is why the COA did not pursue” the issues.

The governor said the COA report simply stated observations that were made to appear as charges because it is election season.

On the deal with Philippine Film Studios Inc. (PFSI), the governor said the provincial government has submitted documents to reflect a P27-million income that was actually “more than double” than what was stipulated in the contract.

On two other firms being able to use facilities in Caramoan for “Survivor” other than PFSI, Villafuerte said he had explained to the COA that the contract with PFSI did not prohibit payments being made by third parties.

Documents submitted to the COA, he said, showed that Strix Production paid P16.3 million while Miditech PFSI of India paid P11.1 million.

On the 2011 Summit CamSur Marathon, Villafuerte said the COA erred in computing earnings from the event because the COA based it on the total number of registrants. Villafuerte said public school teachers and students who took part in the marathon paid no fees because they joined the marathon to promote the provincial government’s greening program, “El Verde.”

He said Camarines Sur also gained free media mileage through the “Survivor” and marathon events.