Ambition and vanity
“The practice of putting up billboards or signages bearing the names, initials and images of government officials or government programs and projects has been noticeably abused and misused by some public officials for their personal interests and has taken the credit away from the taxpayers who are the ones paying for such programs or projects through their tax payment.”
So said Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo in a memorandum circular dated Sept. 23, 2010 that directed government officials to remove any unnecessary reference to themselves on public property. But the memo remains unheeded today, nearly seven months since it was issued.
An image of Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia can still be found along the Naga-Uling road connecting Naga and Toledo Cities.
Buses still bear huge closeup images of Rep. Cutie del Mar of Cebu City’s north district and her father Raul. Skywalks still have their motto: “With you, for you always.” On the sides of some buses are painted the entire Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan slate in the last elections. In one south district barangay, a tarpaulin banner shows the face and all the achievements of Rep. Tomas Osmeña when he was still Cebu City mayor.
The practice of politicians claiming credit for programs and projects funded by the people isn’t confined to the local government.
In the 2004 general elections campaign, fresh signboards saying “GMA cares” sprouted on national roads.
The signage of an alumni house of a university along Osmeña Boulevard declared it was built through a congressman’s pork barrel.
Agencies are not spared the vanity of politicians.
How many projects across Cebu province today bear the acronym “GWEN”? And is it just a coincidence that the the City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) will forever remind people of Osmeña (Si Tom)?
At least Citom’s counterpart in Mandaue City is no longer called Tedman (Traffic Enforcement Division of Mandaue in reference to ex-mayor and now Provincial Board Member Thadeo “Ted” Ouano).
Captions, Secretary Robredo said, should be limited to the name, location, contractor, start and end dates of a government project. Structures may bear only the seal, website and e-mail address of the local government unit. Vehicles should be marked “For official use only,” not––as Mayor Michael Rama plans for Cebu City vehicles––“Together we can make things happen.”
After seven months, Robredo’s memo remains unheeded.
Private citizens don’t emblazon their names or faces on their cars, houses and property. That would be in such bad taste.
Public officials should take a hint.
There’s a proper time to deliver a report of one’s accomplishments. Actually, a public servant who genuinely serves his constituents doesn’t have to worry about being remembered.
