By Harvey S. Keh
THE recent "Road to Nowhere" controversy that has been exposed by Senator Panfilo Lacson and broadcast journalist Korina Sanchez has again brought to light the continuing lack of transparency and accountability in our government dealings and systems.
The main bone of contention in this controversy is a "double entry" of P200 million on the national budget for the extension of the C-5 road. Allegations are being hurled right now at Senate President Manny Villar that his company, which is engaged in the real estate development business has benefited from certain infrastructure appropriations and projects.
Senators led by Senator Lacson and Senator Mar Roxas are now asking for an investigation to take place to ensure that the main culprits are found and charged accordingly. Allies of Senator Villar in the Senate, such as Blue Ribbon Committee Chairperson Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, have defended him saying that this is all part of trying to put down Senator Villar's bid to become President in 2010.
Whether this is part of politicking for 2010 or not, this issue needs to be resolved as transparently as possible by the Senate. While we are still more than 19 months away from the May 2010 National Elections, this will be a good opportunity for us to see how our national leaders will fare in promoting greater transparency and accountability when it comes to dealing with the taxpayers' hard earned money. Let us never forget that the lack of transparency and accountability have continued to hound the present Arroyo administration as seen by Hello Garci, the Fertilizer Scam and more recently, the NBN-ZTE Deal.
I am sure that everyone will agree that we do not want to elect a President who cannot be transparent and accountable to every single Filipino. For all the hoopla and hype in the Senate during the NBN-ZTE Deal investigations, it would be good to see how they deal with this situation wherein their very own Senate President is involved. I fervently hope that our senators will go beyond the usual "pa-pogi sa media" and really work hard towards getting the facts clear and holding the necessary people accountable for their actions concerning this issue. Senator Villar should be the first person to support this investigation especially if indeed he has nothing to hide.
Every Filipino has the right to know how our money is being spent by our government leaders and I hope that this controversy will jolt our Senators to finally pass the much needed Freedom to Access of Information Bill that will ensure greater transparency in our government dealings.
While we lament the lack of transparency in our national government, we continue to have bright spots in our local government units led by Ramon Magsaysay Awardee for Government Service and Naga City Mayor Jesse Robredo. Mayor Robredo is one of the few government officials in our country who has institutionalized mechanisms to ensure transparency in his governance. One of these mechanisms is the establishment of the Naga City Peoples Council (NCPC) which is composed of different Non-Government Organizations, Socio-civic organizations, Academicians and Business Groups.
The NCPC is allowed to sit in and observe city council proceedings, school board deliberations and budget hearings. Aside from this, when one visits the Naga City website, one will be able to see all the results of the biddings that have been conducted and the purchases made by the city government, even the price of a paracetamol tablet in Naga can be seen at the website. We hope that many other local government leaders will emulate Mayor Robredo's practice of promoting good governance through greater transparency and accountability.
'Road to Nowhere' must lead to transparency, accountability
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Will somebody please illustrate/draw where this Road to Nowhere is located. Everybody is saying from SLEX to Sucat, but where precisely? Please be precise so us readers will know exactly what you're talking about.
Same request to Broadcast journalist. Please make a graphic illustration of where this road is. Thanks!
I am so disappointed how the Senate, especially the allies of Villar is confronting the issue. We looked up at them like Senator Allan Cayetano as really someone that we can depend on to serve the interest of the people. But now look at their reactions, also Senator Joker, they are instead making it appear that Senator Lacson is the bad boy for exposing such anomalies. the people needs to know the reality of this issue.We elect these Senators to serve our interest and not to serve for the interest of their political party.
As a Filipino, I'm just thankful that we have leader as courageous as Sen.Lacson... Thank you Mr. Senator for protecting our rights... You're also a testament that: THEY CANNOT PUT A GOOD MAN DOWN..
Keep it up Sir,may GOD BLESS YOU...
Our country desperately needing a leader with your quality..
Im already canadian right now but i wanted to have to acquire dual citizenship.For me my reaction is removed all the pork barrel to senator and congressman like here no pork barrel.The budget will go directly to all the department beneficiary and local official but if department head and local official corrupted the budget they resigned or leave in position during investigation and if they found guilty they go on jail.Congressman and Senators should act as investigator not holding pork barrel.
just a question, why will we listen and believe to korina sanchez knowing that she is the "girlfriend" of Mar Roxas, who we all know is running in 2010 as well? where does her credibilty stand?
Villar maybe should explain the insertion, same as the 16 other senators who have insertions too. and if they proved that there's nothing wrong with insertons, Ping should apologize to Manny for his ungentleman act.
Another example of why elections are a good think.
As elections near, politicians think about how to win votes and one of the best way to win votes is to prove your reform credentials by fighting corruption. Elections encourage corrupt cynical politicians to reveal corruption in a cynical attempt to win votes.
But elections also give hope to true-hearted reformers that even if they cannot oust the corrupt by using Senate investigations or the Ombudsman, they can oust them at the election.
By the way, I am so glad for the Senate. What would we have done without their check?
Is only NCPC allowed to sit in on city council meetings, school committee hearings and budget hearings? Why only them? Such should be open to anyone. Indeed all such should be broadcast on local cable TV. Afterall, shouldn't the bosses be allowed to watch their (public) servants work?
With my personal experience with the likes of Engineer Flordeliza Alampay ( former Drafting and Survey Chief ), Engineer Saturino Disu ( former Building official ) , Engineer Armando Andres ( present City Engineer ) all city of Manila. These people Interpret laws without justification and to their likings and don't care whether they in their decision they put you lives in peril. 4 long years of time wasted and mental suffering cause of these kind of people.
The ONLY time you will appresiate good governance is when you went through 4 years of a BAD one.
The elected Philippine government officials should not be blamed for lack of transparency and accountability. But, the Filipinos, who voted for these elected politicians who lack transparency and accountability, should be blamed and no one else. We already know that these officials are not up to the job and yet Filipinos keep on voting for these people, because their info commercials are good, handsome, beautiful, "mukhang artista", etc. If there are any shortcomings from our leaders, then it is still the fault of the Filipino people since we voted for them.
Amar, the road to nowhere is just an expression borrowed by Lacson from US VP candidate Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's controversial multi-million dollar project to build a bridge that connects to a hardly populated town. Heavily criticized, the project has since been abandoned.
The so-callled double insertions refer to the first P200 million C5 Sucat road flyover and the additional P200 M for the C5 Coastal Road flyover. Both are located towards the far end of C5. The costs for right-of-way on Villar's property are included in this.
To the Filipinos let us be wise and mature enough to elect a leader in the next 2010 election.
Let us hope and Pray that we can find a leader who is Sincere, Transparent and Make plans for better future of the Philippines.
Our Politics in the Philippines is Dirty in
Nature. But we can make a change.
Please let us be wise and smart to choose a right leader who can lead the Philippines into abundant, more opportunity in employment, can fight corruption, can decide and solve domestic problems, can motivate self suffiency by tapping local talents and strengthening Research and Development and who can manage our country into right Direction towards Prosperity.
Hope for the Best in our Country....
Sana Mag kakaisa palagi ang mga Filipino sa HIRAP man o Ginhawa...
Hindi mag away-away sa nakikita natin ngayon...
MAGKAKAISA ang KAILANGAN DAGDAGAN PA ng ISA DISIPLINA...