Capitol wasting money for ads

What are the remarkable and significant achievements and accomplishments that the governor wants to promote?

Capitol plans to hire an advertising agency to showcase the administration of Gov. Hilario Davide III and the Province of Cebu. Provincial administrator Mark Tolentino, who is also the acting head of the public information office (PIO), said this involves a budget of P3.2 million.

The winning bidder will produce radio advertising materials, take charge of the ad placements and monitor their airing. Tolentino debunked speculations this is in preparation for Davide’s reelection bid next year. He said the intention is to promote the programs and projects of the provincial government.

Come on. You are fooling yourself and the Cebuanos, Atty. Tolentino. This is actually meant to court the province’s voters at the expense of the taxpayers money.

Is there a need to promote Davide’s achievements? What are the remarkable and significant achievements and accomplishments that he wants to promote? Nothing. Wala. Kay wala man sad siya’y nahimo.

Tolentino, who is also the chairman of the bids and awards committee (BAC) for this project, said Capitol wants to get primary coverage to promote the province and that it is trying to professionalize Capitol’s media information and dissemination campaign. I hope that as the BAC chairman, Tolentino will not award this project to the highest bidder, like what he did in the purchase of heavy and light equipment.

Granting that the intention is to promote the Capitol but the budget is huge. Producing radio advertising materials does not need millions of pesos. Big private corporations have their in-house production department that takes charge of their promotional materials and ad campaign. But the budget will also depend on the frequency and exposure of the ads in tri-media outlets.

Consider this as a tip in the production of radio ad materials to minimize expenses. The PIO should create a committee that will conceptualize what message they want, either direct testimony or dramatized versions. Then he should produce it, utilizing our local radio talents. There are many radio talents and voice-over announcers who are willing to accept minimal talent fees.

Then, the provincial government enters into contracts with radio stations where they want to air their commercials. The contract should be covered with a Provincial Board resolution to make it legal.

When I was the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) chairman, member stations had a bad experience in its dealing with Cebu City Hall when Alvin Garcia was mayor. When he lost in the election to the “former political has-been,” the latter he did not honor the contracts signed by Garcia. Thus, KBP member stations had a hard time collecting their payments.

When the ads are aired, the PIO will do the monitoring. And that’s it.

I think some radio block time programs are sponsored by the Capitol and are drumbeating Davide’s achievements (kuno). If the Capitol will tap an advertising agency, the bulk of the P3.2 million budget will just go to the agency and to the some entrepreneurial minds at the Capitol. Daghan maka-commission ana.

Kanang P3.2 million maayo na lang ipalit og dugang medisina didto sa mga district hospitals.

All of them can run. The more (of them) the better for me. CEBU CITY MAYOR TOMAS OSMENA, ON THE POSSIBILITY THAT FORMER MAYOR MICHAEL RAMA AND VICE MAYOR EDGARDO LABELLA WILL RUN AGAINST HIM NEXT YEAR