Kilusan Love Malampaya submits proposal for creation of Malampaya council

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, April 24 (PIA) – Kilusan Love Malampaya (KLM), an Non-Government Organization (NGO) watchdog, submitted recently a draft proposal for the creation of Malampaya Funds Management Council, a body that will administer fund utilization of the share from the Malampaya Gas-to-Power Project.
This was revealed by KLM President Cesar Ventura when he presented the draft proposal during the Public Consultation on Malampaya Share held at the Provincial Capitol.
The draft proposal was personally handed to Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. by the proponents - Cesar Ventura, City Mayor Edward Hagedorn and Bishop Pedro Arigo, Vicariate of Puerto Princesa City.
In the draft proposal, the provincial government and the congressional districts will not administer the use of the Malampaya share but the “Palawan Council on Malampaya Funds Management”, which shall manage and control its utilization.
If approved by a Presidential Executive Order, this body shall formulate a master plan on fund utilization and shall have control over its disposition including the management and implementation of projects.
The creation of a Malampaya management council came about as a result of the many unresolved issues affecting the past utilization of the Malampaya share.
In the presentation by Cesar Ventura during the public consultation, some of these unresolved issues include the non-accountability on the utilization of the Php3.1 billion; the anomalies on various infrastructure projects; the long-delayed release of the COA Special Audit; and the pending decision of the Supreme Court on the “ownership” of the Malampaya Gas-to-Power project. (vsm/pia-palawan)