Nogie hits back, demands report

THE word war rages on and this time, Davao City First District Rep. Prospero C. Nograles is taking to task Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte for failing to submit an annual performance report so that Dabawenyos would know where their P3 billion annual budget went.

Mayor Duterte replied by saying that such an annual performance reports is not needed anymore as the people of Davao could pretty well see where their money goes.

"No need for a paper report. You can see it everywhere. Anyway I will send you one," was Duterte's reply to Nograles.

Nograles, however, insisted that Republic Act 6713, Code of Conduct & Ethical Standards for Public Officials, states that "every year a performance report should be made in writing and made public."

"Question, Davao City has P3 billion per year income. Has there ever been a yearly performance report on this? Congress has yearly report in its website and each congressman, including me, gives everyone a copy of his yearly performance report published," Nograles said.

Last Sunday, Duterte accused Nograles of not doing anything for Dabawenyos.

"Sa tinuod lang (the truth is) Boy, you never stood for the interest of Davao City. Kadtong dunay krisis dinhi, hain man ka (when there was crisis here, where were you)?" Duterte said.

Nograles, however, advised the mayor to ask barangay officials what help he had given them.

"Issue about helping Davao people? Ask, interview all barangay officials what help we have given to their people? Livelihood projects, Philhealth insurance, garbage environment vehicles, medicines and hospitalization at the Davao Medical Center, college scholarships with 3,000 college scholars in Usep and Ched, just to name a few. It's all in my yearly published performance report," Nograles said.

The Duterte-Nograles word war is now on its second week and Dabawenyos are already expressing their worry that the conflict might affect delivery of basic services. Mayor Duterte, however, assured Dabawenyos that for as long as he is the one running the City Government of Davao, services will continue as usual.

He said Nograles has nothing to do with running the city since the lawmaker is based in Metro Manila, in Congress, where his job is crafting laws and not running Davao City.

Source: Sun Star Davao