MANILA, Philippines- Para kay ACT CIS Partylist Rep. Erwin Tulfo, ” justified” ang paggastos ng pamahalaan ng P20 milyon para sa ikatlong State of the Nation Address (SONA) ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos.
Ayon kay Tulfo, bulto ng ginastos ay para sa security na nararapat lamang.
“With the security concerns, why would you have a shoestring budget for security when the government officials, dignitaries are there? We could end up a laughingstock if something happens. And so I agree with it,” paliwanag ni Tulfo.
Una nang ikinatwiran ni House of Representatives Secretary General Reginald Velasco na ang P20 milyon ay ginastos para sa pagkain ng lahat kasama rito ang lahat ng personnel kabilang ang internal staff, external personnel kabilang ang kapulisan, MMDA officers at support staff.
Kasama rin sa pinagkagastusan ang lahat ng preparatory activities, uniform ng may 2,000 Secretariat employees, security expenses, gastos sa inter-agency coordination meetings ng mga departamento at ahensya, invitations at giveaways gayundin ang equipment rental ex.penses, communication requirements at medical support
Simabi ni Tulfo na ang SONA ay hindi lamang isang araw na event bagkus mahaba ang preparasyon para rito.
“We have to make sure that everybody will be safe. It is not only about the food, it is more on security, preparations, police and traffic personnel deployment. Same goes for the street sweepers. They have overtime pay too. And these personnel are already deployed in the area as early as Sunday,” giit ni Tulfo.
Nilinaw ni Tulfo na ang seguridad ay hindi dahil sa naging pahayag ni Vice President Sara Duterte na hindi sya makadadalo sa SONA. Anang mambabatas, walang kinalaman ito sa security preparations bagkus ito ay Standard Operating Procedure(SOP) na sa lahat ng SONA.
Tiniyak ni Tulfo na walang dapat ikabahala sa seguridad ng Pangulo.
“Nobody was discouraged to attend because of her remarks. And I have trust how the security protocol of Congress operates. The public has nothing to worry about,” pagtatapos ni Tulfo. Gail Mendoza
