Pam backs Chiz’s anti-corruption measure

Local

NO more favoritism—not even for family.

Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro has thrown her full support behind Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero’s proposed bill that seeks to prohibit relatives of public officials from transacting business with the government.

“It is about time. Dili nana moapil og negosyo ang Kapitolyo,” Baricuatro said in a press conference on Wednesday, July 30. (It is about time. The Capitol should no longer be involved in business.)

The governor said the Cebu Provincial Government is already taking steps to promote transparency and eliminate undue influence by enforcing internal reforms.

Escudero earlier announced that he intends to file the measure this week.

The bill aims to ban public officials and their relatives, up to the fourth civil degree of consanguinity and affinity, from becoming government suppliers or contractors, citing conflict of interest and the risk of kickbacks.

“We will file a measure that would prohibit to the fourth civil degree of consanguinity and affinity any lawmaker or government official to be a supplier to the government,” Escudero said.

He added that the bill responds directly to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call to eradicate corruption and ensure accountability in public spending.

Escudero also plans to endorse the measure to the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) for priority inclusion in the Senate’s agenda.

While senators are expected to deliberate on the measure in an all-member caucus, Baricuatro said Cebu is already moving in that direction.

She cited Executive Order No. 8, which she signed on July 28, suspending all quarrying, sand and gravel extraction, and special disposal operations covered by Capitol-issued permits for 30 days.

The moratorium affects 10 quarry permit holders and nine special disposal operators across the province.

“We need to review and evaluate,” Baricuatro said. “There are complaints regarding some quarry operations and permits, so we need to check if these operators are compliant.”

To lead the review, the governor created a Special Review Committee chaired by Assistant Provincial Administrator Aldwin Empaces.

The panel includes legal and environmental officers from the Capitol, who are tasked to check if permit holders followed extraction limits, boundary rules, siltation and drainage requirements, and remittance obligations under the Cebu Provincial Revenue Code.

The committee will conduct on-site inspections and submit its findings at the end of the 30-day period. Recommendations may include lifting the suspension, extending the moratorium, revoking permits, or imposing administrative and legal sanctions.

In addition, the Capitol has established a new provincial mining board to handle the review and approval of all new and renewed quarry-related permits, a function previously held by the Office of the Governor.

“Actually, nag-meeting nami to set the guidelines, para klaro ang movement. All permits will now be approved by the board… Dili na ni solely ang approval by the Office of the Governor,” Empaces said.

The board includes representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, non-governmental organizations, and both small- and large-scale stakeholders in the mining sector.

Empaces said the new system prevents preferential treatment and improves oversight.

“This is a good step ni Gov… a good practice nga walay pabor-pabor ba,” he added.(MyTVCebu)