Majority of the Negros Occidental provincial board members were under fire from the broadcast media yesterday  for opting to use the discretionary funds for their districts this year to buy what were described as “high end” vehicles for their use.

But Gov. Isidro Zayco  said the new vehicles they purchased were within the price range allowed by law. The prices ranged from P1.15 million to P1.2 million.

Vehicles above P1.3 million cannot be purchased for government use unless granted exemptions by the office of the president, he said.

Zayco said each board member has been allocated a P1.5 million discretionary fund for the year for the needs of their districts, but it is up to them how to use it.

The cost of the vehicles leaves most of them with only P300,000 to P400,000 to spend on projects in their  districts from their discretionary funds.

Additional funds for districts are allocated only if there are supplemental budgets, Zayco said.

Provincial Administrator Enrique Pinongan said that, so far, what have been purchased are two Ford Ranger Trekker 4x4s worth P1,209,456 each for Board Members Nehemias dela Cruz Sr. and Renato Gustilo of the first district, and  six Ford Everest vehicles at P1,186,485 each for Board Members Mae Javellana and Janet Torres of the fourth district, Adolfo Mangao Sr. and Macario Zafra Jr. of the sixth district, George Gitano – Association of Barangay Captains Federation president, and Raul Rivera – Provincial Councilors League-Negros Occidental chapter president.

Board Member Melvin Ibañez of the fifth district opted to buy a P1,150,000 Nissan Navara pickup, while Board Member Manuel Frederick Ko of the third district went for a P500,000 secondhand Mitsubishi Estrada, Pinongan said.

The provincial government was given discounts in the purchase of the Ford vehicles, Zayco said.

Sangguniang Panlalawigan Secretary York Ylosorio said Board Member Edgardo Acuña had also asked for a Ford Everest and Board Member Miller Serondo has a pending request.

No request was made for a vehicle for Sangguniang Kabataan Federation representative Jebmari Bacaro, he said.

Board Member Patrick Lacson of the third district did not buy a new vehicle opting to use his funds for projects in his district, while Emilio Yulo III who is now vice governor, also did not ask for a new vehicle, Zayco said.

The governor said he also did not request for a new vehicle.

Zayco said many of the vehicles assigned to the board members are old, some having been used for seven years already, that is why they had requested for new ones.

The board members need the vehicles to visit the various areas in their district, and to come to Bacolod for SP sessions and meetings, he said. 

The old vehicles of the board members will be repaired and given to the provincial government departments that may need them, Zayco said.*CPG

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