Let there be light

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor NANETTE L. GUADALQUIVER Busines Editor CEDELF P. TUPAS Sports Editor (On Leave) RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

Why is it that some of our officials seem to regard the hosting of international gatherings in our country as opportunities for them to cheat the government of millions of pesos that find their way into their own pockets?

The latest incident illustrating this was uncovered in Cebu Province, where the country held the annual meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations early this year.

Upon accepting the honor of playing host to the prestigious conference, the country went all out in preparing for it, virtually changing the landscape of Mandawe City in Cebu by building the multi-million international convention center, sparing no expense in order to present the best that the Filipino can offer, and, in the process impress, not only the heads of state expected to attend, but also future investors in the country, as well as attract tourists from all over the world.

There were some hitches along the way, like the discovery that the rush-rush job on the building had left leaks on the roof that had to be fixed. And then there was the report - never officially confirmed - that rebels or terrorists were hatching plans in order to derail the affair, for which a predicted typhoon offered an opportune excuse to postpone. But things got ironed out, and the conference went on, very successfully, as its promoters judged it. For weeks, even months, organizers basked in the afterglow of their momentous success.

And then the worm in the apple reared its head. Suddenly it was found out that the magnificent lamps, hurriedly installed along the highways that the delegates were to pass, had been monstrously overpriced, and this was soon confirmed by auditors. Lamps costing only P27,000 were purchased at P224,000 each, those sold to others at P24,546 at P214,698, and so on, all at a total cost of P3.4 MILLION.

Bacoleños will be reminded of what happened also during the holding here of the Southeast Asian Games and the "rehabilitation" and "lighting" of the Paglaum Stadium. The Ombudsman is reportedly busy on these cases, and all indignant citizens should now demand: Let there be light on scams like these.*