by Elena L. Aben
Manila, Philippines – From waging a no-nonsense campaign against drugs and criminality, President Duterte has now trained his sights on a garbage-free Philippines.
Duterte vowed to create a special body to look into how local officials are spending their intelligence and discretionary funds after noting the inability of some local government units to manage garbage in their areas.
“Ang dumi ng Pilipinas. The mayors are not doing anything. There is trash and garbage around and if you have to wait for the plastics to go inside the drainage so every time there’s a downpour, excessive rain, water nagka-clog,” Duterte said in a video posted by RTV over the weekend.
According to the President, the governors and mayors could effectively manage their garbage well because they have their respective discretionary funds.
Because of this, Duterte said he will create a body to review the local executives’ intelligence funds.
“I will create a special team. I will review pati yung intelligence funds ninyo. Yan ang pinakamadaling mapasok sa bulsa eh,” he said.
Non-performing mayors, he said, should make their city clean and peaceful because that is why they are being paid.
“Yung mga mayor na hindi performing, you make your city clean and peaceful kaya kayo bayad e,” said Duterte, adding that local officials who have beautiful offices and who use expensive vehicles should be ashamed of themselves.
“Binibili niyo furniture, ganda ng kotse, yung iba Land Cruiser Suburban. Hindi na kayo nahiya!” said the tough-talking president.
