On September 22, 2011,
Representative Ben Evardone of the Lone District of Eastern Samar in
partnership with the League of Municipalities (LMP) met with the
regional heads of various government agencies for the event.
In his keynote
message, Evardone said that he has the duty to inform the people where
their taxes are going. “All government agencies shall be transparent,
open and collaborate with each other,” Evardone told the participants.
“It is my duty to
inform where the taxes are going,” he added.
The congressman said
that he is not only tasked to legislate laws but as a representative
of the people, he should also know how the government agencies deliver
basic services.
As it is, Evardone
gathered the regional directors, asked them to present their programs
for Eastern Samar and urged the different mayors to ask questions.
PNP Regional Director
Arnold Revilla received complaints for erring PNP elements of which he
vowed to immediately act on them.
As for the DSWD,
mayors asked questions why some families who seemed to be well off
were listed as Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiaries. To
which RD Letty Diokno admitted that there is an error in the listing
of beneficiaries but, “the agency is trying to correct that.”
She also added that
some programs intended for municipalities are held in abeyance as many
of them still have to liquidate past programs.
Director Ed Gonzaga of
the health department shared that some P118 Million is earmarked for
Eastern Samar’s health centers for 2011 and that by 2012 another P100
Million is set.
Department of Labor
and Employment (DOLE) Regional Director Forter Puguon talked about
livelihood opportunities and committed to allot some two million pesos
for Eastern Samar depending on how they can present project proposals
to DOLE.
There were other
livelihood opportunities cited by DSWD and even the Department of
Interior and Local Government.
As the mayors had
problems with project proposals and feasibility studies, Rep Evardone
promised to delegate someone at the Congressional District Office to
assist the mayors in writing project proposals.
As Evardone also
observed how well attended the event was, he vowed to hold the
consultation-dialogue every quarter.
Other agencies like
fisheries, agriculture, public works and highways, environment and
natural resources also presented different projects which mayors
appreciated.
PIA spotted at least
16 mayors, RDs of DSWD, PNP, DOH and DOLE and other minor officials
and a complete set of PNP Chiefs of Police in
Eastern Samar towns.
The whole proceedings,
albeit with some acid remarks from participants, was broadcast live
over Radyo ng Bayan-DYES for Estehanons to hear.
Borongan Mayor Ma Fe
Abunda hosted the event that was held at the Sangguniang Panglungsod
of Borongan.
