TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines- Cagayan ex-officio board member Maila Ting-Que questioned the existence of Cagayan Provincial Information Office (CPIO) as department under the office of governor.
Ting-Que, who is the president of the Philippine Councilors League-Cagayan Chapter, was asking Cagayan government information officer-officer-in-charge Rogie Sending when she pointed out that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan had not approved any ordinance creating the office of the CPIO.
Ting-Que said that such ordinance will warrant the CPIO as department of the provincial capitol to ask for a budget from province’s coffers.
Sending answered that Section 463 of the Local Government provided that the governor may appoint an information officer under his office.
“Mawalang galang na po sa butihing bokal, hindi po ba isang pambansang batas ang Local Government Code na talagang meorn pong nakatalagang tanggapan na information office, mapa-munisipyo, mapa-siyudad o mapa-probinsiya,” Sending said.
Sending added that the CPIO had already been operating even under incumbent Governor Manuel Mamba’s predecessors.
But Ting-Que said the code only provided for the appointment of the information officer, but not the creation of the office.
“Kayo po ay nagsusumite ng budget, and that budget should come with an ordinance (creating your office),” Ting-Que said.
The CPIO has earned the ire of some board members for releasing series of “editorials” attacking the provincial board for not passing the 2017 budget.
Ting-Que said CPIO’s mandate should focus on informing the public on the programs of the provincial government, including that of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and should not only be reporting on the governor’s words and pronouncement. Northernforum.net
