by Harvey Keh
I met with Gov. Ed Panlilio of Pampanga in San Fernando, to talk to him about his current situation there. He told me that his situation is very delicate for several reasons.
His Provincial Board has not approved his Operational and Supplemental Budget. Therefore, he is unable to deliver some of the basic services needed by his province such as the scholarships for indigent students. Worse, he now has to commute to go to the Provincial Capitol because he has to save the little money that he has so instead of using the official vehicles, he just takes the bus which makes him very vulnerable to attempts of other people against him. In fact, he has also reduced the number of his bodyguards because of the meager budget that they have.
He is losing several members of his staff because the Provincial Board led by the Vice-Governor has downgraded the salary level of most of his staff in the capitol to salary grade 1 which will only pay the person P 5,500.00 per month! Thus, many of his good staff members especially those who have families have started to encounter some financial problems thereby forced to resign to be able to look for employment that is more financially rewarding.
All the mayors (in Pampanga) are currently against him and working for his recall because he has not allowed the majority of them to take part in the quarry collections of the province. In the past administration, the mayors were given by the governor their share of the quarry collections which they in turn use for their own personal interests.
Governor Ed represents not only Pampanga but more importantly the hope that Filipinos can have an honest and ethical leader that will put the interests of the greater majority above the self-interests of a few. If we do not support a good man like him, what incentive will good and well-meaning people have to run for public office? We cannot allow a good man to fail because all of us just choose to do nothing while evil people try to put him down.
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