But anti-corruption advocate says ads wasteful spending

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Information Agency’s (PIA) spending of millions of pesos on President Arroyo's “legacy ads” is part of normal government communication, a Malacañang spokesman said Thursday.

“Tungkulin ng pamahalaan na ipaalam sa mga mamamayan kung saan po napupunta ang kanilang ibinabayad na buwis (It’s the government’s job to inform the public where their taxes went). It’s a normal part of governance communication…,” deputy presidential spokesman Gary Olivar told ABS-CBN’s Umagang Kay Ganda.

Olivar added that the PIA came up with the “legacy ads” that showcase the government’s achievements on pro-poor programs, infrastructure projects and jobs creation in order to defend Mrs. Arroyo from an aggressive campaign that besmirches her administration.

With an aggressive propaganda against the President, including allegations of corruption, he said it was only normal for the government to inform the people where their taxes went in the last 9 years.

Olivar said the PIA’s legacy ads were authorized by President Arroyo.

He, however, denied reports that the agency spent at least P1 billion for the ads.

He said the legacy ads will continue despite criticisms of wasteful spending and electioneering.

Olivar said it was unfair for President Arroyo’s critics to connect the legacy ads to her bid for congresswoman of Pampanga’s 2nd district.

He said they are planning to translate the ads to different dialects and promote them in other regions.

'Wasteful spending'

Meanwhile, lawyer Ernesto Francisco, an anti-corruption advocate, said spending millions in ads violates Administrative Order (AO) 103, directing all government agencies to continue the adoption of austerity measures, which was issued by President Arroyo herself in 2004.

Section 1 (a) of AO 103 suspends government spending on “paid media advertisements, except those required in the issuance of agency guidelines, rules and regulations, the conduct of public bidding, and the dissemination of important public announcements.”

Francisco said the legacy ads have been printed on 3 national newspapers. He said the government could have paid each newspaper a total of P883,000 for the ads.

“Ang gastos dito na milyong piso ay puwedeng gamitin sa pagkain. Napakaraming walang makain. Ang P3 milyon sa isang araw ay napakaraming mapapakain na pamilya (The millions of pesos spent for the ads should have been spent to feed people. Three million pesos can feed many families in a day),” the lawyer said.

Francisco did not say if he is also planning to file a case against the government for the legacy ads, but said that someone should be held liable for placing the ads.

He said that the ads were unnecessary because people would feel the effects of Mrs. Arroyo’s programs if what the ads say are really true.

The lawyer believes the government came up with the legacy ads to boost the candidacy of administration candidates, particularly that of President Arroyo.

“At the right time, someone will file a case at the Ombudsman. This is a clear violation of our election code. Why are these ads out only now? It’s because they want to promote the candidacy of people in the administration, primarily President Arroyo,” Francisco said.