Concepcion, Tarlac – – Thus, said when news came out that this town again failed to get the Department of Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG).
As per its rule, the DILG does not grant SGLG to LGUs issued with Notice of Disallowance by the COA.
“Concepcion was (again) disqualified to receive SGLG because the COA (Commission on Audit) has a standing Notice of Disallowance on an expenditure incurred by the past administration”, said a DILG officer who requested not to be named.
The DILG man was referring to the Notice of Disallowance of the Commission on Audit (COA) over a P68.987 Million expenditures incurred in the procurement of heavy equipments in 2012.
Now 3rd district congressman Noel Villanueva is the mayor of this town from 2004 to 2013 while incumbent mayor Andy Lacson succeeded the mayor’s office since then.
Apparently, Villanueva used the P69 Million to purchase several units of heavy equipments before the end of his third mayoral term.
According to the COA Procedural Rules, “a disallowance is the disapproval (in audit) of a transaction, either in whole or in part for being illegal, irregular, unnecessary, excessive, extravagant, or unconscionable expenditure”.
SGLG is much sought by LGUs since it comes with considerable funding packages from the national government. Those who are not awarded SGLG are virtually barred from availing special national funds and bank loans.
For the past 5 years, the DILG continuously denies SGLG to this town.
The SGLG became the talk of the town when news came out that only 6 municipalities of the province were awarded SGLG by DILG last November 7. The ‘seal of good housekeeping’ recipients were Capas, Moncada, Ramos, Pura, Victoria and Gerona. The provincial government headed by Gov. Susan Yap-Sulit was also an awardee.
But even before the DILG awarding, this town’s failure to be granted SGLG was first brought out by Atty. Myla Matic in her post in the Facebook group One Concepcion.
Matic, “paid consultant and legal officer of Villanueva”, blamed Lacson for failing to secure SGLG.
Replying to Matic’s posts in the Facebook, Lacson wrote, “the only record of a NOTICE OF DISALLOWANCE issued by COA against our municipality is addressed to former Mayor Noel Villanueva amounting to a staggering 68.9M pesos (not merely 20k) incurred during his incumbency that remained unsettled and uncleared until today, which is the same primary reason and standing block why our LGU was deprived of the SEAL OF GOOD LOCAL GOVERNANCE AWARD despite our outstanding financial standing and accomplishments”.
It was gathered that the COA have already issued at least 4 Notice of Disallowances on the said P69 Million expenditure.
Sought for comment on the issue, a candidate for municipal councilor here said, “Malamang ang SGLG at ang P69 Million disallowance ang isa sa mga magiging mainit na pag-uusapan sa kampanya, dahil hindi ordinaryong corruption ang halagang ito. Posibleng plunder ito”.
“Kung mapapatunayang totoo ito, lalong matatakot ang mga tao na pagkatiwalaan ang asawa ni cong noel. Ang ibig sabihin kasi pera-pera lang ang intensiyon nila”, also said the first timer councilor-candidate who requested his name withheld.
Lacson is Villanueva’s former vice mayor and the congressman’s closest ally. But Villanueva surprised the town when he fielded his wife, Carmelita, against Lacson for the next year election. /Nelson Bolos
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