Output will decide value of trip — Mayor Rama

“LET’S see what they have learned first before going to the Ombudsman.”

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama gave this statement when asked about the controversial Sangguniang Kabataan Federation trip to Baguio City.

“If walay klaro nga output then, that’s the time that problem will be lobbied to the Ombudsman. Just as long as they behave there then there is no problem,” Rama said.

He said he was awaiting the report of the trip from John Philip Po II, Cebu City Sanggunian Kabataan(SK) Federation president, to assess what the SK chairmen learned from the trip.

Rama also admitted that Po asked his permission to attend the seminar in Baguio and he approved it.

“I was told that it’s a seminar about climate change and other environmental issues. That’s not an ordinary gathering and it is even encouraged by the Department of Environment of Natural Resources,” he said.
He said the best way to deal with the local officials going on trips would be to call their attention rather than telling them not to go there.

He said whoever travels using public funds must prove the necessity of the travel, if there are available funds for it. And there should be a proper output report to prove that they had learned something from the travel, Rama said.

The 30 SK presidents and councilors from various Cebu City barangays led by Po were scheduled to attend the YES Camp organized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).Regional DILG-7 Director Pedro Noval Jr. said the
Cebu City SK delegates to the five-day Youth for Environment Summer (YES) camp will spend P15,000, way above the P2,000 daily travel expenses allowed by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

A DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2011-59 issued by Interior and Local Governments Secretary Jesse Robredo last April 25 also warns elected officials from holding trainings, seminars, workshops and other similar activities outside of their area.