Osmeña: Will taxpayers support P825,000 cost of group tour?
Cebu City Hall will be spending P825,000 for a “lakbay-aral” field trip in Metro Manila for almost 50 department heads, assistant department heads and city officials.
MARGOT OSMENA
The three-nights-four days trip is aimed at “sharing of best practices” and will taken them to cities of Makati, Taguig, Marikina and also Santa Rosa in Laguna province.
The cost is P16,500 per participant.
The Cebu City Council yesterday authorized the official trip from November 26 to 29 in a resolution authored by Councilor Lea Japson.
At first Councilor Margarita Osmeña, who heads the committee on budget and finance, objected.
“Why are all department heads going at the same time? Aren’t lakbay aral trips discouraged? We’ve been cited by COA for various activities that could have saved funds for the city,” she said.
After a short recess, she withdrew her objection but abstained from voting for its approval.
Councilors Alvin Dizon, Dave Tumulak, Alvin Arcilla, Mary Ann De Los Santos and Eugenio Gabuya Jr. also abstained.
The trip is a “Cebu City Heads’ Learning Tour” according to a document from the HR Department of City Hall, under whose budget the travel is charged.
In Makati City, Cebu city visitors will “watch, learn, experience and immerse” in the city’s best practices which includes (1) the award given to the Makati “Yellow Card” Health Program for the
Ospital ng Makati, and (2) the Dubai International “Best Practices” Award for “outstanding contributions in improving the environment.
They will also visit Santa Rosa City, Laguna which is a consistent awardee of the Green Banner Award from the National Nutrition Council for its nutrition program, and the city’s maintainenance of a City Cemetery.
They will also visit Marikina City to study its river rehabilitation and garbage collection program.
In Taguig City, the officials will learn about the city’s award winning socialized housing projects and Fort Bonifacio’s solid waste management system.
A Nov. 5 memorandum by Mayor Michael Rama authorized the travel.
They are required to submit a post training report within five working days after their trip.
The original travel list had 50 city officials including City Administrator Lucelle Mercado, Mayor’s Secretary Belinda Navascues, Chief of Staff . Dominic Dino with department heads of City Hall.
But yesterday, Japson said five will not be joining.
They are Veronica Morelos of the HRDO, Arlene Rentusa of the Internal Audit Service Office, City Treaurer Diwa Cuevas, Tessie Camarillo of the treasurer’s office and Lyndon Basan of the City Legal Office.
Councilors Noel Wenceslao, Nestor Archival Sr., Roberto Cabarrubias, Gerardo Carillo, Lea Japson supported the resolution authorizing the trip.
In her official Facebook page, Councilor Osmeña posted yesterday a copy of the resolution and asked if other local governments allow 50 employees to go for a ‘lakbay-aral’ at one time.
“As a taxpayer, would you allow your money to be spent for a lakbay-aral?” she also asked.