Senator Panfilo M. Lacson today said Malacañang has only itself to blame when creditors like the World Bank deny loans for government projects due to widespread corruption.
“We will not be able to solve the problem if we won’t admit what the problem is, which is pervasive corruption in this administration,” Lacson said.
He was reacting to reports about Malacañang and the Department of Public Works and Highways blaming internal politics in the World Bank for the cancellation of the $265-million loan for the government’s infrastructure projects.
The World Bank, however, claimed it cancelled the loan since the projects were tainted with graft and collusion among bidders.
“Malacañang cannot simply point an accusing finger at others when in fact, it is this administration that has spawned the country’s biggest problems brought about by corruption,” Lacson said.
The administration further tossed the blame on the World Bank, saying it was the bank’s procedures that prevailed upon the bidding and procurement for the intended projects.
In the first place, Lacson said, the government should not have agreed to World Bank conditions that their own regulations be used in the procurement since the country has its own procurement laws under Republic Act 9184.
“There’s another big problem here. We have our own procurement laws, why do we agree to their conditions even if they are the ones lending money? Why do we agree to violate our own laws just so to obtain loans?” he added.
As an example, Lacson cited the graft and corrupt practices that tainted the World Bank’s grant for the procurement of textbooks for public elementary and high school students under the Department of Education.
The ongoing billion-dollar grant was likewise tarnished by allegations of collusion among bidders and grease money going into pockets of ranking government officials.
Lacson lamented that this incident has further damaged the country’s image and credibility and credit standing to future creditors.
“It is about time that Malacañang refrain from blaming other institutions and instead look at their own policies and actuations,” he said.
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Tuesday, November 20, 2007
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4 comments:
Ang advocacy ni Sen. Lacson ang dapat na maging malakas na tinig sa 2010. Ang paglaban sa graft and corruption ay mahirap gawin ng mga politiko na namantikaan na at patuloy na nagmamantika sa pamamagitan ng kanilang kapangyarihan.Maysakit na sila. Kailangan natin ang walang sakit para hindi makahawa. Kailangan natin ang may mataas na pagpapahalaga sa buhay, sa bansa, sa lipunan at hindi mga politiko at maykapangyarihan na walang moral compass.
We need a leader who will make a difference otherwise none at all. Hopelessness and moral decadence is not only gradually destroying our country but it is rapidly obliterating our society.
I hope this wanton destruction will end soon. Kawawa naman mga kababayan natin.
How right you are on your third point, brodney. There is wanton destruction of our society because of the lack of morals among some of our officials. I can only hope we, at least those in the opposition, can remain strong enough to resist the temptations of pork, cash gifts and other perks.
But there is an air of uncertainty Sir, with the current lineup (if there's one) of opposition figures. Parang naghalo ang balat sa tinalupan because what the people feel these days is we are being used at nilalaro lang ng mga politiko ang isipan ng taong bayan. We can count with our fingers the number of true blue oppositionist. Ang talo lang ninyo ay mas marami silang sumasakay sa salitang oposisyon pero kapag sinukat natin ay hindi pala oposisyon kundi pumuposisyon.
I think what the country needs now is not just oppositionists but nationalists and patriots who are willing to sacrifice for the sake of the future. Leaders and advocates who pursue the common good for the greatest number of our people.
Kaya as a piece of advice, siguro kayo po ang mas may kredibilidad to wage a moral revolution. Pero para huwag nilang sabihin na nanggagagad lang kayo you can start a silent war against conscienceless Filipinos (hindi lang kasi mga politiko kundi mga greedy individuals) by identifying graft and corrupt acts and drawing a battle plan by which people with social commitment (not necessarily Pinoys) can rally on. Too big a task pero kailangan na po ng order of battle against the destroyers of our society.
I appreciate your constructive advice, Brodney. Thank you very much. That is exactly what I have been trying to do, to expose wrongdoings and abuses out of patriotism. I have nothing to gain out of my past exposes on wrongdoings, and I can tell you without any mental reservation that I have never engaged in "exposes for sale." In the meantime, if I may, please support my advocacy for clean government. Thank you again.
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