Arroyo allies want politicians' names on billboards

Allies of former President and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Monday opposed the government’s plan to remove the politicians’ names on the billboards for infrastructure projects. At a press conference, Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez said, out of transparency and accountability, congressmen should let their constituents know about the projects they initiated even though it is funded by the government. Each congressman is entitled to a P70-million "Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF)." “Baka isipin ng mga constituents namin na wala kaming ginagawa sa distrito namin. The point is may makita sila na yung binoto nila ay may ginagawa (Our constituents might think we did not do anything for our districts. The point is they should see the things being done by those whom they elected). It is a fulfillment of what you promised. You can shine and be the best orator in the plenary but if you don’t have any project in your district you will not be reelected," he said. Zambales Rep. Ma. Milagros Magsaysay said billboards help the public identify the projects initiated by their congressmen using the PDAF. “That is one form of transparency on our part. Also if the DPWH and the Aquino administration stop us from doing this how will they know where we put our PDAF. We can put it on top of the mountain and nobody will know," she said. Iloilo Rep. Augusto Syjuco said they can tell their constituents, through billboards, that they have kept the promises they made during the elections. “We have promises to keep, we have appointments to meet and it is essential that when the projects go up and become reality to let our people know that we are delivering the promises that we made otherwise they will merely presume that nothing had happened..it is part of the communication," he said. Suarez admitted that putting politicians' names on the billboards is “indirectly a campaign if you are trying to run for elections." “Kanya-kanyang diskarte. Sana wag kaming pakialaman (Let each one have his own way of doing things. I hope they won't interfere with us)," Syjuco said. Camarines Norte Rep. Elmer Panotes also expressed fear that if their name will not be stated on the billboards, some local officials might take the credit for the project. “Kailangang ilagay dahil kung me project hindi alam kung sino ang gumawa. Mayor ang naglalagay ng picture, inaangkin ([The names] should be put because if there is a project and they don't know who did it, the mayor can put his picture and claim the project as his own)," he said. Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson earlier ordered the banning of the names and images of the politicians in the billboards in accordance with the instruction of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III. –VVP, GMANews.TV