Entrepreneurial Farmer

Ambrosio R. Villorente

Congressional Financial Report

On February 6, Congressman Jose De Venecia (JDV) was voted out as Speaker of the House of Representatives. The removal of JDV happened very fast. Rep. Mitra of Palawan in the evening of February 5 moved that the position of the speaker in the House of Representatives be declared vacant. The motion was duly seconded. Several discussions took placed until the members of the House came to voting.

Some members explained their votes, some did not. They voted as soon as their names were called in alphabetical order. The voting was completed at about midnight with the result as follows: 174 yes; 35 no; and 15 abstain. The motion was approved. The position of Speaker of the House of Representative was declared vacant. Immediately, former speaker Jose De Venecia nominated Congressman Prospero Nograles of Davao City for speaker. The nomination was duly seconded. The nomination was closed. Nograles was proclaimed Speaker of the House of Representatives. He took his oath of office before Cong. Pablo Garcia of Cebu at about one o’clock dawn, February 6.

During the voting, Aklan Congressman Florencio T. Miraflores voted ‘yes’. That meant he agreed to declare the position of the Speaker vacant.

No Financial Report

In his radio interview with SM Butz Maquinto, “Ilitsahan,” RGMA, DYRU, Congressman Miraflores informed the radio audience why Cong. JDV was removed as Speaker of the House of Representatives. According to him, JDV was removed not because of the National Broadband network (NBN) alleged anomalous transactions, but mainly because of his treatment to the members of Congress. “The first termers felt they were not treated fairly”, Cong. Miraflores pointed out. “JDV gave more favors to the old timers in Congress,” Miraflores added.

Moreover, JDV has never submitted any financial report. There was no transparency as to how JDV disbursed the billions of pesos annually appropriated for the House of representatives, according to Cong. Miraflores. Most of them felt JDV gave more funds to some of his favorite congressmen and less fund to some. The first term Congressmen felt they were sort of lower class members of congress, Miraflores implied.

This is good lesson too. By the mere failure to prepare and release financial report, a speaker of the House of Representatives was removed from the speakership.

Do It In LGU

Governor Carlito S. Marquez releases financial report from time to time. He also gives his financial report as part of his State of the Province Address.

In the case of Mayor Raymar A. Rebaldo, he may avoid some critics should he provide the public his financial report on the holding of the annual Sr. Sto. Niño Ati-Atihan Festival. In addition to his report about the Ati-Atihan festival, it maybe better also for Mayor Rebaldo to inform Kalibonhons of the financial condition of Kalibo.

Cong. Joeben is a living witness on how JDV was dethroned from the speakership for not being transparent in the disbursement of funds in the House of Representatives. Of the 240 members, 174 voted for JDV’s ouster, only 35 voted to retain him, while 15 were neutral.

Like the congressmen, their respective constituents in various congressional districts will really feel happy to know the annual budget of a congressional district and the ways and where the funds are spent.

Likewise, the LGUs with the leadership of the mayors will make the budget and disbursement of funds be transparent.

PAFC Vice Chairman Resigns

In each province, a Provincial Agriculture and Fishery Council (PAFC) is organized with the assistance of the Department of Agriculture (DA). PAFC is mandated to assist the DA monitor its projects in the province.

In each municipality, the Municipal Agriculture and Fishery Council (MAFC) are organized. The chairman of the MAFC and the Municipal Agricultural Officer of each town of the province constitute themselves into PAFC. From among themselves, they elect their chairman and other officers. The Provincial Agriculturist is automatic vice chairman. In the case of Aklan, Mr. Delano T. Tefora who is the Provincial Agriculturist is the Vice Chairman.

But he has resigned as per his post dated resignation letter dated February 26, 2008. According to Mr. Tefora, he is “tendering my resignation as PAFC Vice Chairman due to Memo No. 2008–020 of Governor Carlito S. Marquez dated February 7, 2008; that Mr. William B. Castillo is the Officer In-charge of the office (Office of the Provincial Agriculturist), and that the undersigned was reassigned to the Office of the Governor…”

The reassignment of Mr. Tefora to the Office of the Provincial Governor is unexpected. What will he be doing in that office?

Perhaps Gov. Marquez has something for Mr. Tefora to do. Agriculture including fishery is a twin program of Aklan. This development is very important to watch. His expertise is perhaps urgently needed at anytime by the governor.

Mr. William B. Castillo will also be given his chance to prove he can manage and show result in agriculture development of Aklan as Officer In-charge of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, Aklan. Mr. Castillo has now all the chances to show to Governor Marquez and the people of Aklan his capabilities as Provincial Agriculturist. /MP