A FORUM against corruption at UP Visayas in Iloilo City on Oct. 18. (Tara Yap)
ILOILO CITY – Rep. Raoul Manuel of Kabataan party-list has urged the Iloilo City government to mount an all-out crusade against corruption.
“If we are serious about promoting good governance, honesty and transparency should apply to everyone — whether they are allies or critics,” said Rep. Raoul Manuel of Kabataan party-list.
Neophyte Mayor Raisa Treñas and his father, former Mayor Jerry Treñas, have received national attention for their anti-corruption crusade but under fire for alleged lack of transparency.
“The challenge of the Iloilo City government is if we claim that we are for good governance, if we claim that there is no corruption in the City of Iloilo, then we should walk the talk,” added Manuel during the Oct. 18 forum “End Corruption: A Forum on Transparency and Accountability” at UP Visayas.
Various Iloilo media outlets have been asking details on two allegedly overpriced projects – the P4.1-million roofing of a pedestrian overpass on Diversion Road and an P800,000 waiting shed in Molo District. None has been released so far.
Manuel said the Iloilo City government should not use the Data Privacy Act as an excuse.
“If the city government truly believes in accountability, it should have no problem opening its books to the public. This is people’s money, not the politicians’ money,” said Manuel from Iloilo City.
This was echoed by former Department of Finance (DOF) Undersecretary Cielo Magno, a professor at the UP School of Economics.
“All government information is public information. There’s no space for data privacy,” said Magno.
Former Commission on Audit (COA) Commissioner Heidi Mendoza noted that the Philippine Constitution guarantees the right of the public to access information.