CLARK FREEPORT – “There is no suppression of information in Porac but we must follow proper procedures in obtaining documents.”
This was the explanation given by Porac town Mayor Condralito “Carling” Dela Cruz on the charge that he ordered a clampdown on releasing documents in the municipality.
The mayor made the clarification during the weekly media forum “Balitaan” organized by the Capampangan in Media, Inc. (CAMI) in cooperation with the Clark Development Corp. (CDC and the Social Security System (SSS) at the Bale Balita here last Friday.
Earlier, municipal councilor and president of the Philippine Councilors’ League– Pampanga (PCL-Pamp.) Mike Tapang accused Dela Cruz of suppressing vital information needed for transparency and proper accountability. Tapang said the mayor even came up with a memorandum strictly enforcing his order in the release of documents.
But Dela Cruz denied the clampdown. He said all information needed for transparency are posted in the web (www.poracpampanga.gov. ph) as well as in three conspicuousplaces in the town – the bulletin board at the entranceto the municipal hall building, the public market and at the premises of the St. Catherine Parish Church.
The mayor admitted signing a memorandum but not to suppress information but to put the process in order. The memorandum requires the inquirer to write a letter and state the reason for such requests, he said.
Based on the reasons stipulated in the letter, the mayor said, “we can now direct the concerned department heads to reply.” Dela Cruz said when Tapang began inquiring on the money transactions of the municipality, he instructed the municipal accountant to release the bank records.
He said Tapang was surprised to find everything in order. He said Tapang was also surprised to find out that there are no ghost employees in the municipal hall when he asked for the list of casuals and job orders (JOs).
Dela Cruz said they regularly come up with a report every quarter and immediately post them. The mayor said before issuing the memorandum, Tapang would go directly to the concerned department heads and obtain documents. But he said with due respect and due protocol dictate that all requests should pass through the Office of the Mayor.
“We are not hiding anything,” he clarified. “All vouchers pass through the resident auditor from the Commission on Audit (COA). That is the process,” he added.
Meanwhile, Dela Cruz explained that he refused to give the bonus without any unanimous approval from the sangguniang bayan (SB) and without any resolution to make it binding to the local finance committee. The mayor said he understands the predicament of department heads since politicians come and go but they stay in their jobs and take the political backlash afterwards.
They should be assured of their security of tenure if they are just doing their jobs, he said. Dela Cruz said some department heads were angered when they were made to receive blank papers from Tapang whom he said began his inquiry after Alviera signed a multi-billion contract with the municipality.
The mayor also accused Tapang of bringing contractors to the Alviera project and insisted on their exclusivity on the contracts. “Buri a ila mu. Enaman pwedi ita (They wanted the projects exclusive to them. That is not right),” he said. The developer (Alviera) might pull out, he warned.
