Pangan: Ghosts

DISTURBING, if not surprising, is the report that Quezon City councilors Roderick Paulate and Francisco Calalay Jr. were ordered suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman for six months without pay for having some 60 ghost employees on the City Hall’s payroll.
Based on the Field Investigation Office’s (FIO) report, the persons holding job order contracts from the offices of Paulate and Calalay were fictitious, had no birth records in the National Statistics Office, were not registered voters and had not secured NBI clearances. Worse, they were reportedly not known in the barangays where they claim to live and their addresses turned out to be false.
Aside from the criminal complaints for graft and malversation of public funds filed against the two, administrative charges for grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and falsification of official documents were also lodged against Paulate and Calalay, along with their liaison officers.
The same FIO report disclosed that Paulate maintained 30 ghost employees, while Calalay had 29, from January to November 2010, with Paulate releasing P1.12 million in salaries, while Calalay had disbursed P2.175 million. It was also reported that disbursement of the salaries was made possible through submission of bogus personal data sheets and payrolls.
This malpractice may be replicated in other cities in Metro Manila as well as in other local government units in the country and this may be possible with the collusion of, say, auditors and treasurers or paymasters.
I know personally the existence of ghost employees in one LGU and at one time, the mayor upbraided the person responsible and sternly admonished her but I wonder why she is still around heading, of all departments, one that has to do with personnel.
Ghost employees, ghost purchases, ghost biddings and ghost infrastructure projects. All of these exist in some corrupt government offices and the crusading President should task his men to go after the grafters at the grassroot levels.
Along with ordinances banning motorcycles with loud, noisy and irritating sounds, local government units should implement anti-smoke belching laws or ordinances on drivers of vehicles which emit harmful fumes. This task should be done by elements of the
Land Transportation Office and, by extension, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, both agencies being tasked with overseeing emission tests on vehicles submitted for registration, particularly at the LTO. When nobody is looking from these two agencies, several smoke-belching vehicles have been seen plying the streets and causing damage to public health. While I laud the men of LTO who are zealous in apprehending colorum vehicles, they should also check on smoke belchers. By the way, what has happened to the monitoring of emission testing centers? Are they now in cahoots with colorum vehicles or plainly sleeping on the job?
While at it, the law or ordinance against smoking in public places and vehicles should also be strictly implemented and violators should be imposed the fines and imprisonment penalty, or both. Again, when no enforcer is looking or in plain sight, hardheaded drivers and individuals blatantly violate the anti-smoking law thinking that they are not being apprehended anyway. This ningas kugon mentality should be curtailed pronto.
This one should be looked into by the Angeles City Health Office and the Office of the Mayor of Angeles City. In my visit to my balae’s house last week in Barangay Margot, I noticed a vacant lot fronting my kumpadre’s house at Sampaguita Street main road which used to contain a barangay health center but which has been demolished, according to my balae, for some reasons may be only known to the barangay’s chief Noemi M. Ocampo and probably, to some kagawads. My balae, Nardo de Guzman, a teacher at nearby Tacondo Elementary School and a prominent resident of Barangay Margot, intimated to me that the lot on which the now defunct barangay health center used to stand is being acquired, if not acquired yet, by a prominent person resident of Margot and a brother of a likewise prominent contractor with an American-sounding surname.
My argument to pareng Nardo was: the welfare of the residents of Barangay Margot should be put way above those of private needs and interests, so the health center building should have been maintained and not altogether demolished in favor of one private individual. Can Mayor Edgardo “Edpam” Pamintuan look into this matter, please?
–oo0oo–
Some local employers provided residents of Northville 16, Atlu Bola, Mabalacat access to job opportunities on Friday, May 11. Despite the long trek to the job fair site, the following sent their representatives to interview the job seekers: Sutherland Global Services, NCO Philippines, Gain Manpower, Metro Gaisano, Faith in God, Starboard Manpower, Horizon Powder Coating, Visondyna and Magnapeak. As usual, the multi-sectoral unit, in coordination with Peso Mabalacat headed by this writer, together with Virgie Miranda, Elaine, Irish and Danica, helped in the activity. The unit is headed by Gerry Dayrit and was assisted by Vidal Busa, Rudy Adrias, Pilo Bondoc, the Northville 16 Homeowners Association headed by its president Amando Manalo and volunteers from the Phi Beta Rho.
Thanks to all of you!
Onward to Mabalacat City. I was given by Municipal Administrator Rosan S. Paquia a copy of the transmittal letter of Marilyn B. Barua-Yap, Secretary General of the Senate, dated April 24, 2012 and which letter forwarded House Bill 4736, entitled: An Act Converting the Municipality of Mabalacat in the Province of Pampanga into a Component City to be known as Mabalacat City, to President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III.
Likewise, on Friday, a letter was forwarded to the President graciously thanking him for his favorable consideration and approval of the city hood bill. If he does sign it, then preparations are underway for the plebiscite, expected to be June or July this year. After that, it will be all rejoicing by the people of Mabalacat led by Mayor Boking and assisted by Rosan Paquia, Roger Tanglao, Myrna Ocampo and, of course, Jun Magbalot. The people behind the Technical Working Group should not be left out, including this writer, Paquia and the ailing Ted David.
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/opinion/2012/05/13/pangan-ghosts-221250

Recent survey done by Philippines Clark Marketing shows that there is a subtle shift of preferences of Manila visitors heading out of town towards the north to enjoy some peace and quiet time with families. More and more foodies, critics, connoisseurs, frequent diners and wine lovers from Manila travel out of town north to Clark Pampanga to wine and dine in famous fine dining Yats Restaurant & Wine Bar. Most visitors enjoy the fine vintage wines from the cellars of this fine dining restaurant. Some purchase a few good bottles of to bring back home to Manila.

Even tourists and business travelers staying in hotels in Philippines Angeles Pampanga take time off from nightlife, bars and other city entertainment to enjoy a relaxing afternoon of wine shopping in this top rated wine shop in Clark Freeport Pampanga. Foreign and local tourists visiting Clark remember shopping in this wine shop as a memorable experience of their stay in the Philippines, Subic and Pampanga.

Italian food is everywhere in the Philippines but good Italian restaurants are few and far apart. Fans of Italian cuisines now look for fine dining restaurants that serve good Italian food accompanied by fine Italian vintage wine. Although Yats Restaurant is classified as a French Mediterranean restaurant, its classic European cuisine includes many of the great recipes from Italy. The fine vintage wines of Clark Wine Center play an important role in this famous restaurant in Clark to make the Italian wine dinners just that much more special.

Things to do in Subic and Clark Philippines: spend an afternoon in Clark to do a little wine shopping at the most famous wine shop outside of Manila called Clark Wine Center. One of the favorite places to visit in Pampanga Clark Freeport is the white building along M A Roxas highway of Clark which houses over 2000 selections of fine vintage wines. The Clark Wine Center is one of the places to visit, a tourist spot and a good shopping place for those staying in Angeles City, Subic or Clark Pampanga.

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.

Click here to contact Clark Wine Center in Clark Pampanga for inquiries and orders.

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com

While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. Highly recommended fine dining restaurant in Manila for special occasion is Yats Restaurant & Wine Lounge located in the famous Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark Pampanga. Situated near this popular restaurant in Clark is the Mimosa Golf Course as well as the Mimosa Clark Casino. This top rated restaurant near Angeles City Pampanga in Clark Philippines is frequently used for private parties and corporate functions such as board meetings and other gatherings. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

Besides good restaurants to wine and dine near Manila, Subic or in Angeles City Pampanga, Clark Philippines, those requiring assistance for hotel and resort bookings in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines may log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com for more information and reservations.

The lifestyle in Clark Pampanga is quite unique. For more information about shopping, sports, golf, leisure, hotel accommodation, where to see and visit, what to do, where to wine and dine and good places to hang out, relax, have a drink with friends, child-friendly establishments, log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

Wine lovers looking for a special bottle or something that is of great value and special discounts might log on to this web site to shop for fine vintage wines
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

Those visitors who plan to relax and unwind in Angeles City, Subic, Pampanga, Clark Philippines might make an effort to book a room at the famous beach and lake resort Clearwater Resort & Country Club. This famous hotel in Clark Pampanga is frequently visited by families with children looking for a good place in Clark to see, a good holiday destination for the family to relax and unwind in the beautiful outdoor facilities. For more information, log on to www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com