Our sincere apologies to ARDCI Microfinance, Inc. and the local chief executive of Baras for the error in the layout of the anniversary message of Baras Mayor Jose Paolo Teves III.
The Tribune layout artist inadvertently used the heading of the Virac municipal government instead of that of the Baras LGU, a mistake not caught in time in view of the tight printing schedule.
The corrected layout of the message has been published on page 5 of this Tribune issue.
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It appears that the Sangguniang Bayan of Virac was not informed by the executive branch when the latter implemented the “No Parking” policy along the national highway last month.
This turned up during the committee hearing on the subject of the privilege speech of Councilor Juan Paolo Sales after a number of businessmen and motorists complained about the policy.
Although the committee hearing started way behind schedule, it was able to hear the side of municipal administrator Atty. Norlito Agunday as well as that of the business establishments, as well as several barangay captains present.
As of this time, the administrator, or even Mayor Sinforoso Sarmiento Jr., has yet to issue a pronouncement on whether they would issue changes on the parking policy.
Among the SB members who attended the hearing, it was only Councilor Sales who was able to present alternatives that would address concerns of motorists and affected establishments.
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The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) recently issued Memorandum Circular No. 2019-149, amending an earlier circular that provided implementing guidelines on the full disclosure of local budget and finances, and bids and public offerings.
The Full Disclosure Policy requires LGUs to post financial documents in at least three conspicuous places, the LGU website and in print media, particularly to keep their constituents informed of how the budget is managed, disbursed and used.
Some LGUs, however, found it difficult to comply in the absence of a website and the cost of procuring print space. Thus, the DILG created the Full Disclosure Policy Portal in 2012 to which LGUs can upload the required documents and the public can view, download or print the same.
Under the amendment, there is a list of financial documents that each provincial and municipal LGU are mandated to post in the FDP Portal for each quarter of the year.
Unfortunately, a check of the portal shows that among the concerned LGUs on the island, only the provincial government managed to comply with the 2nd quarter posting of financial documents. The other LGU that showed up in the search is San Miguel, but only four of the 10 documents were available as of presstime.
DILG cluster heads are supposed to monitor the compliance and uploaded documents of LGUs, which could be dealt with by the department in accordance with pertinent laws, rules and regulations in case of non-compliance.
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THE ACCURATE ARCHER. A duke is hunting in a forest with his men-at-arms and servants when he comes upon a tree. Archery targets are painted all over it, and smack in the middle of each is an arrow.
“Who is this incredibly fine archer?” cries the duke. “I must find him.”
After continuing through the forest for a few miles, he comes across a small boy carrying a bow and arrow. Eventually the boy admits that it was he who shot the arrows plumb in the center of all the targets.
“You didn’t just walk up to the targets and hammer the arrows into the middle, did you?” asks the duke worriedly.
“No my lord. I shot them from 100 paces. I swear by all that I hold holy.”
“That is truly astonishing,” says the duke. “I hereby admit you into my service. But I must ask one favor in return. You must tell me how you came to be such an outstanding archer.”
“Well,” the boy said, “first I fire the arrow at the tree, and then I paint the target around it.”