PRESIDENT Duterte has vowed to investigate the intelligence and discretionary funds of local government units (LGUs) amid his observation of a worsening garbage collection and disposal problem throughout the country.
He said with the billions of pesos allocated for intelligence funds by LGUs throughout the country, the garbage problem should have already been solved. However, there are many cities throughout the country that still experience problems in sanitation and flooding.
“Many localities in the country are so dirty and yet the mayors are not doing anything about it,” Mr. Duterte said. “There is trash and garbage around and if you have to wait for the plastic to go inside the drainage every time there’s a downpour and excessive rain water, there would be clogging.”
Under the Local Government Code and the Constitution, the President is given the power of general supervision over local officials.
Mr. Duterte said he would create a special body that will look into intelligence and discretionary funds that may have been misappropriated by local officials.
“I will create a special team. I will review including the intelligence funds, which are the easiest to misappropriate. And those mayors who are not performing, you have to make your city clean and peaceful,” he said.
President Duterte added that local officials who have beautiful offices and use expensive vehicles should be ashamed of themselves.
Regarding his other directive to local officials to stop the illegal-drugs trade Malacañang said he is set to announce the so-called narco-mayors involved in illegal drugs.
“In time, I’m sure that the President will announce the suspects and other persons of interest,” Communications Secretary Martin M. Andanar said.