Ikinatuwa ni Northern Samar Representative Paul Daza na naibalik na sa kaban ng bayan o national treasury ang nasa P1.2 billion pondo ng Department of Information and Communications Technology at Metro Manila Development Authority para sana sa ‘Wi-Fi’ project.
Ayon kay Daza ang nasabing balita ay isa na namang panalo para sa mga Filipino taxpayers.
Kung maalala ang P1.2 billion na pondo ay inilipat ng Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) sa Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) ay para sana sa NCR Fiber Optic Backbone Development and Network Resiliency project na isa sa mga hotly-contested issue bago magtapos ang 2022.
“I’m happy to note that said funds had already been transferred to the Bureau of the Treasury last month. Clearly, the two house committees and their Chairpersons Florida “Rida” Robes and Tobias “Toby” Tiangco had done an excellent job. The people’s will has won,” pahayag ni Rep. Daza.
Pinasalamatan naman ni Daza si dating MMDA Chairperson at ngayon ay DILG Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. na siniguro na maibalik ang nasabing pondo.
Umaasa din ang mambabatas na ang practice of interagency transfers ng pondo ay dapat lamang bubusisiin ng mabuti ng House of Represetatives at ng Department of Budget and Management.
“I am aware that it is being done every now and then. However, there should be clearer guidelines and accountability,” dagdag pa ni Daza.
Naniniwala kasi si Daza na may mali sa ginawang pag download ng pondo pwera na lamang na aprubado ito ng DBM.
“As with anything in government, please, let’s just do it right. Let’s do it for the peace of mind of our taxpayers,” pahayag ng economist solon.
Nanawagan naman si Daza sa DICT na ang mga itinuturing na critical programs gaya ng free Wi-Fi and national broadband ay minamadali.
“There’s a silver lining in all of these. We’re hopeful that DICT has also learned from this and will expedite its backlogged critical projects. The neediest communities in far-flung barangays are still waiting to be connected, especially through the free Wi-Fi program, which was given an additional allocation of P2.5 billion in 2023,” dagdag pa ni Cong. Daza.
