Grabbing credit from taxpayers

It is a good thing that Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago has filed a bill that would prohibit public officials from claiming credit for projects that are funded with taxpayers’ money. Equally commendable is the Aquino administration’s move to support the proposed law titled, “An Act Prohibiting Public Officers from Claiming Credit through Signage Announcing a Public Works Project.”

Looking around, one notices that indeed in the country today, the name or photo of President Aquino cannot be seen on signage or billboards announcing government projects. This is contrary to the practice—I think “malpratice” is the more appropriate word—of many local government officials.

In the explanatory note of her bill, Senator Santiago said that placing the names and photographs of politicians and public officials in government projects is “highly unethical.” This malpractice is so rampant especially during the political campaign season, as such signage are put up by political aspirants in aid of election or reelection.

One specific example is Quezon City, during the term of Mayor Herbert M. Bautista’s predecessor. I have written about this issue, and several of my letters on the matter have appeared in the Inquirer’s Letters section, to the chagrin of Quezon City’s ranking officials. The malpractice is more pronounced in the city’s first congressional district, particularly in barangays Pag-asa, Bago Bantay and Vasra.

It is hoped that Santiago’s bill, once enacted into law, will put a stop to this malpractice of “credit-grabbing” by public officials for government projects.

The Santiago bill is long overdue. Congress should pass it as soon as possible, and the President should sign it into law forthwith.

—EUSEBIO S. SAN DIEGO,

founder,  Kaguro and former president,

Quezon City Public School Teachers Association,

[email protected]