TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines- Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba on Thursday, August 10, clarified that his memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) is with regard to the office’s desk within the provincial government and not for another office.
Mamba told the Northern Forum in a text message that the desk aims to assist clients especially during people’s day and that the desk has been already with them for months.
In his privilege speech in the 51st session on Wednesday, August 9, Vice-Governor Melvin Vargas, Jr. questioned the governor’s ‘request’ which he said was for an extension office in the provincial government.
Vargas said the Sangguniang Panlalawigan has yet to grant Mamba’s MOA with the PCSO, saying that the committee on laws has yet to give action on the matter.
Vargas said he was surprised with the governor’s request. The vice-governor said that, during the tackling of the issue on small town lottery, he talked with PCSO Branch Manager Heherson Pambid who apparently told him that a PCSO office already exists in the province. He was referring to the PCSO office in Mamba’s hometown of Tuao.
“Kasi magkakaroon tayo ng problema once nag-eexist na po yung provicnial government,” said Vargas.
In the session, 3rd District Board Member Rosauro Resuello chimed in on the matter, saying that the PCSO office in Tuao was only a shared office. He said it only had two tables: one for documentation and one for validation.
Meanwhile, Mamba said that the provincial government of Cagayan does not need to spend anything regarding the issue. On Friday, August 4, the governor met with Pambad and PCSO officials, together with some local mayors and representatives from various sectors.
Before adjourning, the vice-governor said they will write to the governor. “We still have to follow the process and the process is for us to allow the governor to enter into a MOA”, said Vargas. Northernforum.net
