So many fakes, including women
WHY is the Commission on Audit (COA) quick to release to the media its adverse findings on some local government unit (LGU) transactions?
At the Cebu City Hall, for example, COA released its audit report noting how the officials there spent taxpayers' money for nonpriority projects. There were also audit reports about misuse or realignment of funds that COA said were not in accordance with our laws or under the Local Government Code (LGC) and its guidelines.
Yet despite the findings, COA does nothing against those responsible for the discrepancies and questionable acts.
From what I learned, concerned LGUs are allowed to give their side during an exit conference, after which everything has already been settled and corrected. Some findings only involve procedural lapses.
However, what get highlighted in the media are the lapses in spending and the release of funds. If you read COA's reports, one can conclude that all transactions were highly questionable and anomalous.
Consider the realignment of the budget for the construction of the new Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC). Before COA made public its finding that the act violated certain provision of the Local Government Code, City Treasurer Diwa Cuevas already explained that the realignment was allowed because the money was in the general funds, which can be replenished during the collection of taxes.
Cuevas is not foolish to recommend the use of the funds if she knew it was illegal. Still, if COA found Cuevas and Mayor Michael Rama liable based on the LGC provision it cited, then it should charge the said officials before the anti-graft office. It should not wait for a “has-been pol- itician” to initiate the filing of the cases.
Meanwhile, COA said that City Hall misused the Pagcor funds as it did not follow the guidelines. Pagcor has been extending financial help to the city amounting to P4 million monthly for the operation of its casino at the Waterfront Hotel.
Pagcor's “generosity” started during the first term of this “has-been politician” as city mayor. He gave a “kalabasa” award to Pagcor and threatened to close its casino operation if it would not give a share to the city. If my memory serves me right, one of the guidelines was that Pagcor funds should be used for peace and order purposes.
I gathered that Pagcor funds are the “most abused” funds. If councilors have immediate funding requests, these are charged to the Pagcor funds. If COA considers as irregular the use of Pagcor funds, then it should charge those responsible.
As to the purchase of rubbing alcohol and “love hormone” or oxytocin, these should be seriously looked into by Mayor Rama. Imagine five bottles of alcohol cost P21,000 or at P4,000 each? What kind of alcohol was that?
I know that Mike will not tolerate shenanigans. Maybe there are just some “entrepreneurial minds” who want to make money out of government transactions. Nalutsan lang siguro ang mayor. Pero tinud-a gyud ni Mr. Mayor kay “tuwid na daan” man kaha ta.
*** We should be careful nowadays because of the proliferation of fake products. Fake rice, fake medicines, fake money, fake gold and even “fake women.” Tan-awa ra gud nang ubang bayot. Sus, morag na gyud og babaye tan-awon. Kun dili ka magmatngon, ma-ilad ka kay bisan ang mga tingog morag babaye na. Naay daghan nila diha sa Mango Square magsuroy-suroy panahon sa kagabhion. Mga foreigners kasagaran ilang biktimahon.
But what is alarming is the supposed proliferation of fake rice and medicines. Fake rice has reportedly penetrated the Philippines and other Asian countries. It supposedly came from China and is made from potatoes with synthetic resin molded into the shape of real rice. I am sure there are side effects once we eat it. Imagine eating “plastic rice.” I don't know how we ordinary people can detect this.
Fake medicines are also circulating in the market. Just recently, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 raided several pharmacies distributing or selling fake medicines. These fake medicines look like the original one.
How can we determine if what is in front of us is fake rice or not? If we are not cured after taking the medicines for several days, that means we bought the fake one. I think our government should be on its toes and look after these fake products.