Pangan: Ghosts

DISTURBING, if not surprising, is the report that Quezon City councilors Roderick Paulate and Francisco Calalay Jr. were ordered suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman for six months without pay for having some 60 ghost employees on the City Hall’s payroll.
Based on the Field Investigation Office’s (FIO) report, the persons holding job order contracts from the offices of Paulate and Calalay were fictitious, had no birth records in the National Statistics Office, were not registered voters and had not secured NBI clearances. Worse, they were reportedly not known in the barangays where they claim to live and their addresses turned out to be false.
Aside from the criminal complaints for graft and malversation of public funds filed against the two, administrative charges for grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and falsification of official documents were also lodged against Paulate and Calalay, along with their liaison officers.
The same FIO report disclosed that Paulate maintained 30 ghost employees, while Calalay had 29, from January to November 2010, with Paulate releasing P1.12 million in salaries, while Calalay had disbursed P2.175 million. It was also reported that disbursement of the salaries was made possible through submission of bogus personal data sheets and payrolls.
This malpractice may be replicated in other cities in Metro Manila as well as in other local government units in the country and this may be possible with the collusion of, say, auditors and treasurers or paymasters.
I know personally the existence of ghost employees in one LGU and at one time, the mayor upbraided the person responsible and sternly admonished her but I wonder why she is still around heading, of all departments, one that has to do with personnel.
Ghost employees, ghost purchases, ghost biddings and ghost infrastructure projects. All of these exist in some corrupt government offices and the crusading President should task his men to go after the grafters at the grassroot levels.
Along with ordinances banning motorcycles with loud, noisy and irritating sounds, local government units should implement anti-smoke belching laws or ordinances on drivers of vehicles which emit harmful fumes. This task should be done by elements of the
Land Transportation Office and, by extension, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, both agencies being tasked with overseeing emission tests on vehicles submitted for registration, particularly at the LTO. When nobody is looking from these two agencies, several smoke-belching vehicles have been seen plying the streets and causing damage to public health. While I laud the men of LTO who are zealous in apprehending colorum vehicles, they should also check on smoke belchers. By the way, what has happened to the monitoring of emission testing centers? Are they now in cahoots with colorum vehicles or plainly sleeping on the job?
While at it, the law or ordinance against smoking in public places and vehicles should also be strictly implemented and violators should be imposed the fines and imprisonment penalty, or both. Again, when no enforcer is looking or in plain sight, hardheaded drivers and individuals blatantly violate the anti-smoking law thinking that they are not being apprehended anyway. This ningas kugon mentality should be curtailed pronto.
This one should be looked into by the Angeles City Health Office and the Office of the Mayor of Angeles City. In my visit to my balae’s house last week in Barangay Margot, I noticed a vacant lot fronting my kumpadre’s house at Sampaguita Street main road which used to contain a barangay health center but which has been demolished, according to my balae, for some reasons may be only known to the barangay’s chief Noemi M. Ocampo and probably, to some kagawads. My balae, Nardo de Guzman, a teacher at nearby Tacondo Elementary School and a prominent resident of Barangay Margot, intimated to me that the lot on which the now defunct barangay health center used to stand is being acquired, if not acquired yet, by a prominent person resident of Margot and a brother of a likewise prominent contractor with an American-sounding surname.
My argument to pareng Nardo was: the welfare of the residents of Barangay Margot should be put way above those of private needs and interests, so the health center building should have been maintained and not altogether demolished in favor of one private individual. Can Mayor Edgardo “Edpam” Pamintuan look into this matter, please?
–oo0oo–
Some local employers provided residents of Northville 16, Atlu Bola, Mabalacat access to job opportunities on Friday, May 11. Despite the long trek to the job fair site, the following sent their representatives to interview the job seekers: Sutherland Global Services, NCO Philippines, Gain Manpower, Metro Gaisano, Faith in God, Starboard Manpower, Horizon Powder Coating, Visondyna and Magnapeak. As usual, the multi-sectoral unit, in coordination with Peso Mabalacat headed by this writer, together with Virgie Miranda, Elaine, Irish and Danica, helped in the activity. The unit is headed by Gerry Dayrit and was assisted by Vidal Busa, Rudy Adrias, Pilo Bondoc, the Northville 16 Homeowners Association headed by its president Amando Manalo and volunteers from the Phi Beta Rho.
Thanks to all of you!
Onward to Mabalacat City. I was given by Municipal Administrator Rosan S. Paquia a copy of the transmittal letter of Marilyn B. Barua-Yap, Secretary General of the Senate, dated April 24, 2012 and which letter forwarded House Bill 4736, entitled: An Act Converting the Municipality of Mabalacat in the Province of Pampanga into a Component City to be known as Mabalacat City, to President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III.
Likewise, on Friday, a letter was forwarded to the President graciously thanking him for his favorable consideration and approval of the city hood bill. If he does sign it, then preparations are underway for the plebiscite, expected to be June or July this year. After that, it will be all rejoicing by the people of Mabalacat led by Mayor Boking and assisted by Rosan Paquia, Roger Tanglao, Myrna Ocampo and, of course, Jun Magbalot. The people behind the Technical Working Group should not be left out, including this writer, Paquia and the ailing Ted David.
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/opinion/2012/05/13/pangan-ghosts-221250

Some of the good resorts in Pampanga offer clean and safe outdoor facilities for Manila families to bring their children along for a nice picnic ideal as a form of family bonding. Clearwater is one of the best hotels in Clark Pampanga that offer outdoor picnic spots and facilities that are suitable for teambuilding and other corporate and social events near Manila. This is also one of the best resorts in Pampanga for family bonding, anniversaries and other celebrations. This hotel in Clark is also one of the best resorts near Manila for families to relax, unwind and enjoy the outdoor facilities of this popular resort in Clark Philippines. Clearwater appears frequently on the top of a list of the best hotels in Pampanga. Wedding pictures can be taken in one of the beautiful resorts near Manila for a wedding album. This hotel in Clark is also a favorite holiday destination near Manila during Holy Week, Easter, Christmas and New Year holidays.

Philippines wedding planners and wedding reception caterers recommend Clark Philippines as this year’s premier destination for beach weddings and garden receptions. Wedding couples in Philippines no longer prefer traditional indoor venues and hotel ballrooms for wedding receptions in Manila, Angeles City, Subic and Clark Freeport.

Selecting a good and safe event venue in Philippines is not that easy. Many public event venues in resort hotels in Philippines can’t deliver assurances of safety and security. This exposes corporate and private events to risks that are not acceptable to event organizers in Philippines.

This exclusive hotel in Angeles Philippines is a place of leisure that is. The resort has the perfect ambience for a romantic beach wedding and a garden style wedding reception, exactly the kind of wedding venue we have been looking for to get married in the Philippines. Angeles City is near Clark Philippines and just 90 minutes from Manila. Clark is home to some of the best golf courses in Pampanga. Although golf continues to be one of the reasons why visitors from Manila travel to Pampanga, residents of Angeles City, Subic and Bulacan travel to Clark not just to play golf in one of the best golf courses in Pampanga but also to relax and unwind in the best resort in Philippines.

Garden style wedding reception can take place within a few meters from the beach of this hotel in Clark Philippines so guests and observe the ceremony at the comfort of their seats on the table.

Clearwater is a highly recommended and most frequently visited private resort in Pampanga. This Clark hotel is a famous private resort outside Manila for corporate planning because of its exclusivity.

It is important to visitor that the family feels safe in a hotel in Angeles Philippines. That is a main reasons that we choose to stay in this hotel in Clark Pampanga outside of Manila Philippines. Many don’t like the hotels in Subic or some of the hotel in Angeles City Pampanga. This highly recommended hotel in Angeles city Clark Philippines does not make them comfortable and secure.

For reservations, comments and inquiries,

Clearwater Resort & Country Club
Creekside Road corner of Centennial Road,
Central Business District, Clark Freeport Zone,
Pampanga, Philippines 2023

Tel: (045)599-5949 0917-520-4403 0922-870-5177

Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 Rea or Chay

http://www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com

Email: Inquiry@ClearwaterPhilippines.com

Getting to this hotel in Clark Philippines
After entering Clark Freeport from Subic, Manila, Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along Clark’s main highway MA Roxas, passing Clark’s largest wine shop called Clark Wine Center on your right, continue to bear right making no turns at all, go past Mimosa Leisure Estate on the opposite side of the road, you will hit a major intersection. Go straight and the road becomes Creekside Road. YATS Clearwater Resort and Country Club is on your right just 200m down. Traffic in Clark Philippines is light so it should be quite easy for get to this hotel in Clark Philippines.

For inquiries and bookings, click here to contact Clearwater Resort now

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com

While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

While in Clark, one might as well add to the itinerary a visit to the famous Clark Wine Center, the largest wine shop in Philippines which offers over 2000 selections of fine vintage wine from all wine regions, vintages spanning over 50 years covering all price ranges.
http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com

http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

For jobs and business investment opportunities in the Philippines please visit http://www.yilp.com