Vice Gov. Rene Relampagos reveals that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) has allocated nearly P600 million for Coronavirus disease (Covid) response.
This was his declaration during an exclusive interview aired over NEWSMAKERS hosted by the sister tandem Ardy Araneta-Batoy and Gloria Leodivica Araneta on Apr. 15, 2021.
He made the revelation to debunk perceptions that the SP is prioritizing the purchase of new vehicles instead of using the funds for Covid response.
The vice governor said the vehicles being used by members of the SP were purchased back in 2012 and expected to last for seven years or 2019.
Moreover, Relampagos said that the PGBh already spent a total of P11 million on repair costs for all vehicles issued to SP members, since 2013.
In the same interview, the vice governor said that last January 2021, Board Member Elpidio Jala delivered a privilege speech asking the SP to push for the purchase of the new vehicles.
After Jala, who is a member of the opposition, another opposition member Senior Board Member Dionisio Victor Balite stood and manifested his support to the suggestion made by Jala, according to Relampagos.
Ironically, Balite who supported Jala’s call to purchase the new vehicles, is now singing a different tune and now tells the public that he is against the purchase.
Balite was not in the executive session last Apr. 13, 2021 where 10 board members present agreed to support the purchase of the new vehicles, according to reports received by The Bohol Tribune.
As this developed, Relampagos said during the interview that the matter is being used as a political issue by the opposition against the administration.
The vice governor also reiterated that the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) green lighted the plan of the SP to purchase the vehicles.
The SP allocated P24 million for the purchase of 14 pick-up trucks. The vehicle purchase should have been made last year, but the funds were realigned for the Covid response, Relampagos said.
Under the national guidelines, before any vehicle purchase in the local government unit (LGU), a DILG approval is warranted, Relampagos said.