Provincial administrator Kathyrin Pioquinto slammed a Jagna town councilor for saying that the towns of the 3rd district are poorer than those located in the 2nd district.

Pioquinto countered Coun. Anthony Aniscal’s post with her own post on Mar. 2, 2022 (see related story on the front page).

The provincial administrator also hatched the idea of organizing a lecture on financial literacy “for some LGU [local government unit] officials”.

“Murag kinihanglan na jud nato mag organize ug lecture on financial literacy for some LGU officials. We have a two-term councilor (seeking re-election for 3rd term) of Jagna who posted this: Luoy DAW ang 3rd district kay mas dako DAW ang income sa 2nd district in 2019,” Pioquinto wrote in her post.

Pioquinto asked Aniscal for the latter’s basis for saying that the 3rd district towns are poorer than their 2nd district counterparts.

“Unsa imong basis sir? Raw data downloaded from BLGF [Bureau of Local Government Finance] for 2019 man ni naa sa post nimo?”

Pioquinto asked.

“Basin wala ka na inform na 78% of the total income sa second district is actually Internal Revenue Allotment or IRA? Mao ni sya ang annual share of local governments out of the proceeds from national internal revenue taxes. 76% lang intawon sa 3rd kay mas dako man ang local revenue sources nila,” the provincial administrator explained.

Pioquinto gave a short explanation on the IRA computation in her post.

“Gi unsa pag compute sa IRA kada LGU? IRA is 50% based on population and 25% based on land area and 25% based on equal sharing (Section 285, RA [Republic Act] 7160, Local Gov’t. Code of the Philippines),”‘Pioquinto quipped.

She continued: “So natural na mas dako ang allocation sa 2nd district kay bisan pa 14 towns lang didto kumpara sa 3rd District nga 19 ka lungsod, mas daghan man ang population sa 2nd [district].”

She then went on the offensive by telling Aniscal: “Basin imong gi-basehan ang income classification na 2 kabuok ang first class sa 2nd ug jamo sa 3rd? Sir, sukad pa na sa 2008, wala pa jud nausab! 14 years ago pa na sir dili 2019.”

“Mao bitaw na bisan pa 1st class ang Ubay ug Talibon, gilupig sila sa income sa Carmen. Ug tan-awon nimo ang local revenues sa 2019, Ubay only generated 50M [million] vs Carmen na 116M [million] (2nd class) and Loboc (4th class) na 118M [million]. Bisan ang Jagna nga 3rd class municipality sir, nga councilor man ka didto, gilupig ang Ubay sa local revenues at 51M [million],” one of Capitol’s top officials said.

“So based on these real figures sir, kinsa man jud ang tinuod nga luoy?  Kay mosulti man jud ang numero sa tinuod. Bisan unsa imong gamiton nga numbers sir, 1) PSA [Philippine Statistics Authority] poverty statistics nga gi base sa RA 8425 or Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act, nga mga pamilya nga dili makakuha ug basic pagkaun, panglawas, edukasyon, ug panimalay or 2) Income sa BLGF,” she said.

“Mag organize mi sa PLO [Provincial Legal Office] ug Local Finance Committee ug Free Seminar sa fiscal literacy. Puhon ug madayon, mo reserve kog slot para nimo [Aniscal]. Bring your friends kay basin nituo pud sila nimo,” Pioquinto posted on social media.

“Since you [Aniscal] posted your misinformation obviously intended to mislead the public, in the interest of fairness, I am also compelled to post the truth. As a public official, Mr. Councilor, you owe it to your constituents to enlighten them with the truth, not confuse them with your lies to promote your personal interest,” Pioquinto concluded the post.

IN DEPTH

Pioquinto was the resource person in the March 3, 2022 episode of Open Forum program aired over dyTR’s 91.1 Balita FM, hosted by the sister tandem of Ardy Araneta-Batoy and Gloria Leodivica Araneta.

When interviewed by Araneta, Pioquinto said that she reacted to Aniscal’s post on Facebook after one of the former’s friends alerted her about the latter’s insinuations on social media.

“When I read his [Aniscal] post, at first, I found it very funny because the post was a screenshot, I think, of a fiscal year 2019 statement of receipts and expenditures, which he [Aniscal] downloaded from the Bureau of Local Government Finance under the Department of Finance,” Pioquinto told Araneta during the interview.

Moreover, Pioquinto said that Aniscal went on to comment that 3rd district towns are poorer than 2nd district towns (see related story on front page).

While some construed Pioquinto’s post as a “lecture”, the provincial administrator’s intention for the post is to counter Aniscal’s insinuations by educating the public and clarify issues.

Pioquinto said that the 2nd district has been consistently ranking high when it comes to poverty incidence, which is not the same as the income of local government units (LGU).

“Ang poverty insidence lahi pud sa income,” the provincial administrator added.

Pioquinto surmised that Aniscal may not be aware of the difference between poverty incidence and the income of a town.

Poverty incidence refers to the measurement of a family’s income compared to the poverty threshold which data are being updated by the PSA every three years, Pioquinto said. The latest data was released on 2021.

She explained that a family earning below P12,000 a month is considered to be poor. 

Poverty incidence, Pioquinto added, is the percentage of families considered to be under the poverty threshold in a particular locality.

Pioquinto also said that the Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) has been consistently awarded with the Seal of Good Housekeeping by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

In order to get the said seal, LGUs including the PGBh, are required to submit income data quarterly, and post the same data in conspicuous areas, she explained as she refuted the allegations of Aniscal that the provincial government has not been uploading financial data.

Furthermore, Pioquinto insists that the provincial government has been religiously complying with the posting requirements of the DILG in order to be eligible for the Seal of Good Financial Housekeeping.

The income classification of an LGU is determined by the Department of Finance (DOF), based on an executive order by former President Corazon Aquino. The DOF recommends changes or revisions in the income classifications of LGUs to address prevailing economic conditions and this is done every four years, she explained.

However, the DOF stopped giving recommendations in 2008.

The provincial administrator bared that through an act of Congress, this body may designate the income classification of an LGU.

The income of the LGU is not a determining factor for poverty incidence but the income of the family is, Pioquinto said.

BLGF DATA

Based on the data of the BLGF provided by Aniscal in his post, the total income posted by 2nd district towns totalled P1.87 billion compared to the income of third district towns which was pegged at P2.2 billion.

However, the towns of Talibon and Ubay, which are in the 2nd district, are classified as 1st class municipalities compared to 3rd district where there is no town classified as 1st class, based on the BLGF data.

Pioquinto explained that since the DOF stopped changing in 2008 the income classification of LGUs, Carmen, remained as a 2nd class municipality even if it earns more income compared to some 1st class towns like Ubay.

Based on the BLGF data, Panglao is classified as a 4th class town, and it earned in 2019, P226.8 million, which is close to Ubay’s income of P258.8 million.

She explained that in 2008, if a town earned P55 million, it can be classified as 1st class municipality. This means only the towns of Ubay, Talibon and Tubigon in 2008 earned at least P55 million, thus they are classified as 1st class municipalities.

In 2019, Carmen, a 2nd class town, earned P264.6 million which is higher than Ubay’s income of P256.8 million, the BLGF data reveals.

PA SLAMS ARIS

In another post, Pioquinto slammed 2nd dist. Cong. Aris Aumentado after the latter shared the post of Aniscal.

In a post, Aumentado said: “Hehehe only 2nd District ang duhay 1st Class Municipalities sa Tibuok Bohol, unya mas gamay ra ang 5th Class Municipality pod sa Second. Good job 2nd District. Ayaw ka guol 3rd kay tabangan unya mo nako diha aron mo saka ang mga classification sa inyohang mga kalungsoran. Ilabina naa napod si Cong Alexie Tutor nga daghan ug tabang sa Tersero sa una pa lang niya nga termino.”

In her reply to Aumentado’s post, Pioquinto reacted by writing a comment: “Cong. Aris, tabangan nimo ang mga municipalities sa Bohol na ma-first class unja ang income pareha sa Ubay lang? Wala pud ka na-inform na the higher the income of an LGU, the higher the wages for the employees? Asa man ka pangitag bayad nila Cong. Aris kung classification lang imong ipataas? Funny if this is not happening to your Province. But very tragic and heartbreaking because this is BOHOL!!! This beautiful place with kind hearted and beautiful people does not deserve this kind of representatives!!! Gi-apil pa ang incumbent 3rd district rep?”

Pioquinto wrote in another post on social media: “DID YOU KNOW?? That there are two kinds of people: 1) Those who do the work. 2) Those who take the credit.”

Pioquinto quoted Aumentado: “Ingon si 3rd term Congressman sa segundo distrito na “only 2nd District ang duhay 1st Class Municipalities sa Tibuok Bohol, unya mas gamay ra ang 5th Class Municipality pod sa Second. Good job 2nd District.”

She continued: “But he [Aumentado] did not stop there! Gidugang pa nya “Ayaw ka guol 3rd kay tabangan unya mo nako diha aron mo saka ang mga classification sa inyohang mga kalungsoran.”

The provincial administrator explained: “FYI, [for your information] 1st class municipality na ang Talibon since 2005 ug ang Ubay since 2008. Ang Congressman sa 2nd District from 2001- 2010 is Atty. Roberto Cajes, ang amahan sa atoang First Lady sa Tagbilaran City, si FL [First Lady] Jane Yap. If there are those who worked hard to make Talibon and Ubay the top income municipalities in Bohol, these were the former Congressman of the 2nd District Atty. Robert Cajes and the mayors who served those towns during those years!”

She added: “Fast forward 9 years after, Mr. Incumbent Congressman sa 2nd district, based on the 2019 income report sa BLGF you proudly shared,  3 ka lungsod (Carmen, Loboc, and Jagna) ang naa sa 3rd district ang nilapas sa local revenues sa Ubay. Nisaad pa jud ka na tabangan nimo ang 3rd district na mosaka ang mga classification!

Unsay implication sa pagsaka sa income classification? 1) Motaas ang sweldo sa mga officials ug empleyado ug 2) moubos ang pwede gamiton sa pagbayad sa sweldo (personnel services cap) from 55% to 45% of the total budget. (Sources: DBM issuances)

Unsa may resulta ani? Ug dili madugangan ang income pero imong ipasaka ang classification, daghan mawad-an ug trabaho sir. Ngano? Gamay na lang pwede ma employ sa LGU kay 45% na lang sa entire budget nila ang pwede gamiton sa sweldo unja, motaas pa jud ang bayad sa officials!”

Pioquinto then posted a question: “Pangutana: Dili ba angay maguol ug motaas ang unemployment rate?”

Pioquinto, in the radio interview, said that Aumentado seems to be taking credit for the classification of 2 first class second district towns.

Pioquinto told Araneta in the radio interview that she had to issue a comment on social media to educate the public and to correct the insinuations. The current 2nd district congressman first assumed office on 2013, Pioquinto quipped.

As this developed, Capitol’s staunch critic, Emmanuel “Willy” Ramasola came to the defense of Aumentado.

In a post on Mar. 3, 2022, Ramasola wrote: “Hala ngano ni strong man ni si Basilan Administrator ng Bohol [Pioquinto]? She said Aris is trying to grab credit daw. Naunsa ka? Aris only mentioned a fact that the second district has two first class municipalities. And fewer fifth class municipalities. That’s a fact as per report. Unlike the third district na nitakilid during the nine years under Art Yap. Aris did not claim credit for converting Ubay and Talibon into first class municipalities. As you said, it was during the time of Cajes? Were you already in Bohol at that time or nasa Basilan ka pa. Because if you were in Bohol, you would have known that the governor at that time was Governor Erico Aumentado. The father of Aris. “

The staunch critic retorted: “Or maybe magkasama na kayo ni Art Yap sa Manila kaya hindi mo alam.

But if not for the help from Aris, dili ma maintain ang pagka first class municipalities sa Ubay and Talibon especially na dili supportive si Gov Chatto sa second district. We have to give credit to the good congressman for that. Aris only said that if ever ma Governor na siya then he will help the third district also.

So ngano nasuya man ka? Kanang imong Tagalog na governor kapila na siya mo grab credit from DOLE [Department of Labor and Employment],Dept. of Agriculture (DA) etc? Dili maihap ang pagka epal anang imong amo, Miss Basilan Girl.” Ramasola continued: “Hindi ka [Pioquinto] taga Bohol. Outsider ka. Kaya tumahimik ka nalang.”

Pioquinto countered Ramasola’s tirades in the radio interview as she retorted tnat to insinuate Yap as a credit grabber is tantamount to fake news.

She explained that the governor has been giving credit where credit is due and shows appreciation to those who help him during his stint as agriculture secretary, as 3rd district congressman, and now as governor of Bohol.

“Gov. Art never took credit [at the expense of] a national government agency,” she said in the interview.

She also chided the fake critics who would continue on criticizing the current provincial administration and have already closed their minds as they refuse to listen to explanation.