[ad_1]
Northern Samar Rep. Paul Daza. (INQUIRER.web file photograph)
MANILA, Philippines — P1.2 billion-worth of funds for the federal government’s Free Wi-Fi for All Program, which have been transferred initially to the Metropolitan Manila Growth Authority (MMDA), have been returned to the nationwide treasury, Northern Samar 1st District Rep. Paul Daza stated.
In an announcement on Monday, Daza stated that MMDA’s transfer to return the funds to the Division of Info and Communications Expertise (DICT) — the implementing company of the stated program — is a giant win for taxpayers.
“It’s one other win for the Filipino taxpayers! The P1.2-B value of funds that had been beforehand transferred by the [DICT] to the [MMDA] are actually again with the nationwide treasury,” Daza stated.
“I’m completely satisfied to notice that stated funds had already been transferred to the Bureau of the Treasury final month. Clearly, the 2 Home committees and their Chairpersons (Reps.) Florida ‘Rida’ Robes and Tobias ‘Toby’ Tiangco had finished a wonderful job. The individuals’s will has received,” he added.
It may very well be remembered that in a privilege speech final November, Daza revealed that DICT transferred funds to the MMDA and different businesses with out getting the consent of Congress.
Daza stated that P3 billion to P4 billion of DICT’s P12 billion funds have been transferred to MMDA, regardless of digitalization and web connectivity not part of the company’s mandate.
The P1.2 billion value of funds transferred by the DICT to the MMDA was for the NCR Fiber Optic Spine Growth and Community Resiliency mission.
Whereas it was clarified in a subsequent listening to that there was a provision within the Normal Appropriations Act that allowed businesses to now not search Congressional nod, DICT nonetheless didn’t ask for an approval from the Division of Price range and Administration (DBM).
One Fee on Audit useful resource particular person even agreed with Daza that the difficulty may very well be thought of technical malversation primarily based on first look.
READ: Solons grill ex-DICT exec for unauthorized MMDA fund switch
Daza thanked former MMDA chairperson and now Inside Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. for guaranteeing the return of the funds, saying that it has contributed to the optimistic consequence.
The lawmaker hoped that the difficulty could be a speaking level for Congress and different businesses like DICT, to make sure accountability and transparency sooner or later.
“I’m conscious that it’s being finished now and again. Nonetheless, there must be clearer tips and accountability,” Daza stated, including that there’s nothing unsuitable with transferring funds so long as it’s finished correctly.
“As with something in authorities, please, let’s simply do it proper. Let’s do it for the peace of thoughts of our taxpayers,” he added.
He additionally hoped that DICT would expedite the implementation of initiatives, contemplating that different authorities businesses concerned additionally returned the funds.
“There’s a silver lining in all of those. We’re hopeful that DICT has additionally discovered from this and can expedite its backlogged essential initiatives. The neediest communities in far-flung barangays are nonetheless ready to be related, particularly by way of the free Wi-Fi program, which was given a further allocation of P2.5 billion in 2023,” Daza famous. With reviews from Niña Cuasay, trainee
JPV
Subscribe to our every day publication
[ad_2]
No Comment! Be the first one.