ANGELES CITY – The Pampanga Press Club (PPC) is “enjoining” the Ombudsman to investigate the use of millions of funds donated in the last few years by the Clark Development Corp. (CDC) to the organizer of the hot air balloon festival last held from Feb. 10-15 this year.
This developed even as the PPC, the second oldest press club in the whole Philippines, has denounced the organizer of the balloon fest for alleged high handedness and discrimination.
In a manifesto issued over the weekend, the local mediamen said: “That during the holding of the event last February, members of the local press despite wearing accreditation ID’s issued by the organizers encountered difficulty in covering the said event with the refusal of the organizers to allow them inside the event venue. In contrast, members of the national media were given VIP treatment and access to all areas in event venue.”
The manifesto also scored the festival organizers led by one Joi Roa for failing to make a “full disclosure of the money allotted by the CDC amounting to P3.5 million this year.”
For the past years the CDC has been donating similar amount to the hot air balloon organizers. No accounting of the donation was ever publicized by either CDC of Roa’s group.
The PPC said this “non-liquidation” of public funds is “contrary to the pronouncement of President Aquino’s “Matuwid na daan.”
“The public event was held at the Clark Freeport Zone last February which was attended by thousands of spectators who spent money for entrance and parking fees, foods, souvenir items etc. Rent for stalls inside the festival was also collected by the organizer but again, no accounting was ever done,” the manifesto furthered.
“In this regard, the Pampanga Press Club enjoins the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate the use of funds donated in the last few years by CDC to the organizer which in turn have not rendered full accounting of said government funds,” it concluded.
This developed even as the PPC, the second oldest press club in the whole Philippines, has denounced the organizer of the balloon fest for alleged high handedness and discrimination.
In a manifesto issued over the weekend, the local mediamen said: “That during the holding of the event last February, members of the local press despite wearing accreditation ID’s issued by the organizers encountered difficulty in covering the said event with the refusal of the organizers to allow them inside the event venue. In contrast, members of the national media were given VIP treatment and access to all areas in event venue.”
The manifesto also scored the festival organizers led by one Joi Roa for failing to make a “full disclosure of the money allotted by the CDC amounting to P3.5 million this year.”
For the past years the CDC has been donating similar amount to the hot air balloon organizers. No accounting of the donation was ever publicized by either CDC of Roa’s group.
The PPC said this “non-liquidation” of public funds is “contrary to the pronouncement of President Aquino’s “Matuwid na daan.”
“The public event was held at the Clark Freeport Zone last February which was attended by thousands of spectators who spent money for entrance and parking fees, foods, souvenir items etc. Rent for stalls inside the festival was also collected by the organizer but again, no accounting was ever done,” the manifesto furthered.
“In this regard, the Pampanga Press Club enjoins the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate the use of funds donated in the last few years by CDC to the organizer which in turn have not rendered full accounting of said government funds,” it concluded.
