Capitol sees no need to require return of government vehicles

Only outgoing officials in Cebu province will be asked to turn over and submit their Capitol-issued vehicles to an inventory before the new three-year term for local elective officials starts.

Jone Sepe, head of the Provincial General Services Office (PGSO), said there would be no need for the others to temporarily return their vehicles since his office conducts a yearly inventory of the nearly 2,000 vehicles owned by the provincial government.

“We have regular inventory conducted every year. We do it yearly and submit the report to COA (Commission on Audit). Walay sakyanan nga gipanghatag sa mga mayors (No vehicles were given to the mayors), so it’s a totally different picture,” Sepe said in an interview yesterday.

Most of these vehicles are multicabs marked with the Cebu provincial government seal. These were distributed to the different barangays.

There are also 14 vehicles intended for the 14 members of the Provincial Board. Nine are outgoing.

Sepe said outgoing officials would be advised in a letter to turn over their government-assigned vehicles for inventory and accounting.

With the addition of another district in the province, Sepe said they were looking at purchasing two new vehicles for the two PB members of the seventh district.

As to upgrading the other vehicles, Sepe said they would have to check the budget for this.

Gov. Hilario Davide III said he would have to ask the provincial budget officer for a budget allocation.

Danilo Rodas, the provincial budget officer, said there is a P40-million budget allocation under the item motor vehicle in the governor’s office which may be used to purchase new vehicles. If this is insufficient, Rodas said a supplemental budget may be passed.

Meanwhile, Governor Davide said he has accepted the courtesy resignations submitted by 15 department heads last month. But he said their services would be retained.

“Makuhaan or mapun-an unless kung modesisyon sila nga mo-resign na kay tired na sila sa work (Their work will be lessened or increased unless they decide to resign because they’re tired of their work),” Davide said.