MANILA – Allies of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo are vehemently protesting the ban imposed by the Aquino administration on the use of photos and names of politicians and officials on billboards and tarpaulins in government projects.
The Arroyo “loyalists” who now form the minority in the House of Representatives, led by Congressman Danilo Suarez of Quezon province in Southern Luzon, claimed the ban would not promote transparency.
Besides, Suarez said the ban would make them vulnerable to the collection of “revolutionary taxes” imposed by members of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) who reportedly demand three percent of the gross amount of a project.
Suarez also claimed the ban would be unfair to neophyte lawmakers who need to prove they can keep the promises they made during the elections.
Suarez is best remembered as one of Arroyo’s favorite travelling companions in her foreign trips, who paid about $12,000 while hosting a dinner for the former president and her group in a steakhouse in their visit to Washington DC in 2009.
However, Secretary Ricky Carandang of the Malacanang communications group said President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino is standing firm on the ban, saying that it is the Filipino taxpayers, not the politicians, who are paying for these projects.
The President first imposed the ban as he ordered officials not to use his name or photo in signages put up on government projects because he does not want to create a “personality cult.”
Instead, Aquino ordered that such signages should contain vital information like the names of the contractors, the amounts allocated and expected dates of completion.
Aquino’s order has since been adopted by Cabinet officials like Secretary Rogelio Singson of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Secretary Jesse Robredo of the Department of Interior and Local Government who directed national officials and politicians to remove their names and photos from vehicles like ambulances, police cars and firetrucks.
But this did not stop the Arroyo allies from opposing the ban. Aside from Suarez, Congresswoman Milagros Magsaysay of Zambales province in Central Luzon said placing their names and photos would help the people and even the Aquino administration monitor their use of “pork barrel” funds.
On the other hand, Congressman Augusto Syjuco of Iloilo province in the Visayas said that if the DPWH does not want their names and photos on the projects, they would just spend for their own signages.
“If President Aquino does not want to put his name in projects, it is okay with us,” Syjuco argued. “But if we want to put ours, he should not meddle in our affairs. We have promises to keep, projects to meet.”
In this light, Syjuco and Magsaysay said they would put their names and photos on project billboards at their own expense so their constituents would know they are delivering on their election promises.
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