P19-M sidewalks for military camp

I sincerely HOPE this issue has simply been blown out of proportion.

P19-M sidewalks for military camp
Soldiers grumble over Abu's decorative tiles


Posted 00:13am (Mla time) May 08, 2005
By Fe Zamora
Inquirer News Service

http://news.inq7.net/nation/index.php?index=1&story_id=36296

Editor's Note: Published on page A1 of the May 8, 2005 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer


A PLAN by Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Efren Abu to replace the sidewalks in Camp Aguinaldo with "decorative paving blocks" has caused grumbling among soldiers and civilian personnel in the camp.

How can he do that when some of the soldiers in combat areas have not even received their rice allowances, a group of enlisted soldiers asked.

"This is unnecessary and extravagant and it shows General Abu's double standard implementation of austerity," a soldier representing the group told the Inquirer.

"The GHQ [General Headquarters] has not restored the rice allowance to our colleagues in Mindanao, but we have money, it turns out, to beautify the sidewalk," he said.

Documents furnished by the group to the Inquirer showed that Abu approved the project on April 20, but an initial release of P5 million to fund the project was made as early as Jan. 13.

A detailed breakdown of the expenses prepared by Colonel Cyrano Austria, chief of the 51st Engineering Brigade, put the total project cost at P19,792,264.

On April 16, AFP Vice Chief of Staff Admiral Ariston de los Reyes objected to the plan.

"Demolishing the present sidewalks and replacing them with paving blocks for aesthetic purposes may not be in keeping with the times," De los Reyes said in his marginal note on a memo from AFP Deputy Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Edilberto Adan.

"Recommend consider the option repairing buildings instead, say government quarters at Camp Aguinaldo and others," De los Reyes added.

But Abu, in his marginal note on the same letter, overruled De los Reyes, saying that "we have enough funds for the repair of the buildings."

Abu also approved the release of P5,567,235 to the 51st Engineering Brigade, which was tasked to handle the project.

The sidewalks to be repaired run along De Jesus Avenue, starting from the corner of General Capinpin Avenue to General Santos Avenue; and the length of Segundo Avenue, starting from the corner of Gen. Capinpin Avenue to Guido Avenue, at the back of the GHQ building. Demolition of the sidewalks has been ongoing since last month.

‘Verbal orders’

In his letter to the Deputy Chief of Logistics on Feb. 7, 2004, Austria said the project was based on the "verbal orders" of Abu to "implement the repair/renovation of sidewalks using decorative paving blocks and renovation of existing covered shade to make the CGEA (Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo) more presentable, and implement it by phase if the available funds are not enough for the said projects."

Austria gave a detailed estimate of the project.

According to him, the renovation of the sidewalks would cost P6,241,264, while replacement/construction of covered shade would cost P13,551,000, for a total of P19,792,264.

Austria noted that an initial P5 million had been released, and he was seeking approval of the P14,792,264 balance.

But the enlisted men who brought the project to the attention of the Inquirer said there was no need to renovate the sidewalks or the covered walkway because "they are still okay."

An enlisted man who represented the grumbling soldiers from a unit in Camp Aguinaldo said Abu -- who issued a memo on austerity measures in February -- should be the first to follow his memo.

In the memo of Feb. 25, 2005, Abu ordered the strict implementation of "energy conservation measures," including turning off all lights and air-conditioning units by 5 p.m.

Abu also banned soldiers from spending the night in their offices, except during times when a security alert was in effect or when there was prior permission to work overtime for official functions.

In his memo, Abu said using electricity beyond office hours was a "malpractice" with "adverse effects on the financial resources and even the overall fiscal management of the AFP's resources."

Electricity, water bills

"Instead of having enough resources to support our operations, we give up part of our limited funds to pay our electricity and even water bills," the memo said.

The memo showed Abu's application of a double standard, the soldier said.

"He has imposed austerity measures on us, but he has imposed a different standard for himself," the enlisted man said.

He said that Abu -- who is due to retire on June 24 -- had renovated the quarters and office of the AFP chief of staff, "even if there was nothing wrong with it."

Abu took over as AFP chief of staff on Oct. 29, 2004, replacing General Narciso Abaya.

This post has been edited by adroth on May 8 2005, 10:43 AM

for kriSSakes its a military camp, not a family park!

frkin demons! don't these azzhats ever learn?! 19m bucks for a pathway?

last i know, they are soldiers and why in the hell do they want to walk on TILED PATHWAYS?

dumv azzes afraid of getting calluses?

That is the easiest money making venture these ssaholes could ever invent .

P19Million for sidewalks ? Are there no more priorities other than this crap?

I think these funds has been hastily released, and disbursements of these funds should be monitored considering the project is not ideally urgent.

I think another bunch of corrupt stiwkcuf were already eyeing to get a stake on this money.

taas pa naman ang expectation ko kay Gen. Abu, tapos eto na naman..

sino na lang kaya ang totoong matino sa AFP

A part of me is still hoping that the press simply blew this issue out of proportion.

Scrap the sidewalk plan, buy 19 million in medical supplies, and send it to the troops.

Or use that funds for the education of orphans left behind by troops who died in line of duty.

That's the problem with the revolving door policy. Top leaders make projects that can be easily seen like the waiting sheds and basketball courts of politicians. With their names attached to it, another project of so and so. Because if they do changes in policies and steps on the foot of someone elses, it may not hold ground before he retires. And to include, quick bucks before they go out.

Better put young officers that has a time to totally overhaul the system and possesses the idealism. Retire all armchair generals and put a ten year period to audit their lifestyles. Sorry na lang sila their time were wasted.

A part of me is still hoping that the press simply blew this issue out of proportion.

Inquirer has more hits than misses, we all know that, so the probability is high that this was a true report.

Goddarn frivolous generalissimos!

I once posted that power corrupts. These chiefs of staff (present and past) were honest before. See? they are now afflicted with 'corruption fever'.
No wonder, the AFP will always be in need of funds. It is because of hungry commanders.
And worst, when the commander retires the coffers get drained due to pabaon practise.

When will we ever learn...

DAW pa lang naman;

Estimate daw lang yung 19.

Pero disbursed ay 5 milyun na.

Maari daw di abutin ng 19.


Di lang "covered pathways".

Pato fences kasama.

DI NAMAN MASAMA ISAAYOS BAHAY MO PARA SA IKAGAGANDA NAMAN NITO.

Pero parang magulo! May pondo na aprub na ang 19 milyun tapus sasabihin di yun ang talaga cost?

Hmmm... MGULO ITO. NAKU IPALIWANAG MO YAN GEN. ABU. Tumatama sa yo ang kalabuan na yan.


Ang matindi yung swimming pool na may 18 milyun na pondo na di kapanipaniwala na aabot sa ganun.

Nakup..Gen.Abu paki clarify idol pa naman kita..tsk..tsk..
gaano ba kahaba yung sidewalk na yan at abot 19 mil?
19million pesotas sana pang bili ng ammo para sa tropa kundi meal subsidy sa frontline troops. bayaan na yung mga retired general na madapa kung mag jogging sa sidewalk mi insurance naman sila eh..

Baka yung isang hollow block ay P500 each at yung bag ng semento ay P5000 each?

Anu yan Gen. Abu?

Naku sasabit ka dyan!

Mainit pa naman mata ng mga nasagasaan mo sa promusyun!

Ingat lang Sir. Baka masyado ka na nililigaw ng mga bata mo dyan sa HQ.

Paalala lang, Sir.

At yung 18 milyun na swimming pool. Naku! Di pa malinaw yan.

Tsk tsk tsk.

Precisely Sir!

GEN. EFREN ABU MUST SET THE EXAMPLE.

I BELIEVE PGMA CAN DO A LOT IN STOPPING THIS PABAON SYSTEM.

MALAKI NA NAMAN ANG NAKUKUHA NILANG RETIREMENT PAY DIBA?

BAKIT KAILANGAN PANG MAY NAKAKAIRITANG PABAON NA YAN?

NO WONDER ANG IKLI NG TERM NG PAST CSAFP. LAHAT YATA NAGHAHABOL SA PABAON NA YAN.

Does Gen. Abu has the integrity and conscience to start the breed of CSAFP who will not succumb to the temptation of this pabaon?

Let's wait and see.