NCPC – People’s or Puppets’ Council?

Last week, I brought out the unauthorized P2,085,000.00 election-timed loan that was released to an NGO (SPUKOI) on February 17, 1998, in aid of Cho Roco’s election as Robredo’s interim successor. And to this date, it remains unpaid. Thus, I called for an Ombudsman investigation for graft and corruption of all responsible officials for this loan. As well, the Sanggunian and the Naga City People’s Council should investigate this loan posthaste, acting not by blind loyalty to Robredo, but by their solemn OATH to our People.
No reaction, however, from NCPC. Well, I’m not surprised with what has become of the NCPC. After all, it remains under Robredo’s payroll. Worse, the NCPC is complicit in City Hall’s disregard of COA circulars.
COA’s 2007 audit reveals that the NCPC received a recorded total grant of Php800,000.00 in 2007. However, the NCPC failed, among other violations, to comply with Section 3.10 of COA Circular 96-003, which reads: “Within 60 days after completion of a project, the NGO/PO shall submit financial statements, certificate of project completion and acceptance of project by the beneficiaries or funding agencies. For projects amounting to P100,000.00 and more, the statements shall be certified to by an independent Certified Public Accountant or verified by the internal auditor of the funding agency.”
For that matter, the NCPC stands as the umbrella organization or representative of all accredited NGOs/POs in Naga City following Ordinance No. 95-092. No wonder that, as a whole, the COA found that—
“The City was not able to provide adequate measures to protect the grants to NGOs/POs for CY 2007 amounting to P11,775,944.47 contrary to the provisions provided by COA Circular No. 96-003 dated February 27, 1996. Thus, there is less assurance that the projects undertaken by the NGOs/POs are supportive of the programs or thrusts of the LGU. Likewise, value delivered to the beneficiaries was not ensured.”
Now, when Ordinance No. 95-092 was enacted in 1995, the funding support for the NCPC was only Php300,000.00 annually “for the next three (3) years for purposes of community organizing, establishment of cooperatives, people’s and non-government organizations, interest groups, labor unions and other activities which promote and advance the people’s right to self-organization.”
Over 14 years since then, the NCPC has remained beholden to Robredo for increased funding instead of being able to stand on its own. For sure, this defeats the very purpose of a “people’s council” as distinguished from government and patronage politics, for dependency is not empowerment but slavery. You don’t bite the hand that feeds you, as the old adage goes.