LC dads express support in fighting graft, corruption

Laoag Vice Mayor and council presiding officer Rey Carlos Fariñas defends his measure regarding the city government of Laoag expressing its commitment to transparency, accountability and community consultation in the implementation of national infrastructure projects in the city of Laoag. (Doms dela Cruz)

By Dominic B. dela Cruz, Staff Reporter

Laoag City—The Sangguniang Panlungsod here expressed its “commitment to transparency, accountability and community consultation in the implementation of national infrastructure projects in the city of Laoag”.

Section 1, Article XI of the 1987 Philippine Constitution states that, “Public Office is a Public Trust’. Public officers and employees must at all times be accountable to the people with highest standard of transparency, efficiency, and public trust;”

Sections 2 and 27 of the Local Government Code of 1991 provides that it is the Policy of the State to require all national agencies and offices to conduct periodic consultations with appropriate local government units, non-governmental and people's organizations, and other concerned sectors of the community and no project or program is implemented in their respective jurisdictions without obtaining prior approval from the concerned sanggunian (local legislative body).

Laoag Vice Mayor and council presiding officer Rey Carlos Fariñas, who sponsored the measure said, “the City Government of Laoag has committed to uphold transparency, accountability, and integrity in government operations and affirm efforts to combat graft and corruption to require collective action and unwavering commitment from all stakeholders.”

Records show that President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has presented his eight-point socioeconomic agenda, which comprises the following focus areas: (1) food security, (2) improved transportation, (3) affordable and clean energy, (4) health care, (5) social services, (6) education, (7) bureaucratic efficiency, and (8) sound fiscal management that serve as vehicle for good governance.

Fariñas said that the aforementioned socioeconomic agenda of the President is “very much affected with the recent national concerns regarding irregularities in the government infrastructure sector have prompted local governments across the country for greater scrutiny, openness, and accountability in the planning and execution of such initiatives”.

“Therefore, graft and corruption are pervasive issues that undermine good governance and hinder national development,” Fariñas added.

“Substandard or ghost projects, or worse, not even aligned with the master plan of Laoag City is a manifestation of lack of adherence to laws and regulations can undermine justice, security, and economic development”, he pointed out further.

Relative to this, the city government expressed its commitment to uphold the principles of good governance, transparency and public accountability, and shall work closely with the Department of Public Works and Highways and other relevant agencies to ensure that any form of graft and corruption is thoroughly investigated and prosecuted.

The vice mayor said that a copy of this measure should likewise be furnished the Office of the President, secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways, secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, provincial government of Ilocos Norte, Congressional Offices of Ilocos Norte, Office of Laoag City Mayor, City of Batac, all municipalities of the Ilocos Norte and all barangay councils of Laoag City, for their information and guidance.

“Let this measure not merely a call for documents or data- it is a declaration of the City of Laoag’s unwavering belief that public office is a public trust, and that every peso spent, every project built, and every promise made must serve the people with honesty, dignity and care, may this stand be a reminder to all agencies and officials that the true measure of governance is not in concrete poured, but in lives protected, voices heard and secured future; with this Resolution, we affirm that Laoag will always choose transparency over silence, consultation over imposition and integrity over expediency- for the people, by the people and with the people,” the vice mayor said.