Trip made by driver had office nod

CEBU, Philippines - The trip made by a Mandaue City employee using a service vehicle of the office of the City Social Welfare Services (CSWS) that figured in an accident last December 23 was approved by the same office.

The City Legal Office will still conduct an investigation on the extent of the damage made on the Isuzu Canter service vehicle and might oblige the driver to pay.

But city administrator Briccio Boholst yesterday said driver Edilberto Obida asked for permission to use the vehicle for an "out of town travel."

For humanitarian reasons, the mandate of the office being to provide aid and services to less fortunate constituents, the driver's request was approved.

Obida allegedly had tried to avoid a big water-filled pothole and in so doing the vehicle fell into a fifteen-meter deep ravine in Dumanjug town.

CSWS chief Violeta Cavada, said Obida, who is also a constituent of the city being a resident of barangay Tipolo, had asked for permission to use the vehicle to transport his relatives from the city to Dumanjug town so they could attend the burial of a cousin who died in an accident.

Cavada said since Obida's relatives are residents of the city and have no money for a bus ride, she approved the request.

On their way home, the vehicle was carrying 18 people when it figured in an accident.

Ten of them were taken to the Don Vicente Sotto Memorial Hospital for minor bruises.

The vehicle is still in running condition having incurred minor damage and is now back at the CSWS office.

Boholst said when the driver sought the help of the CSWS, the city did not treat him as an employee but as a constituent of the city who sought the help of the office.

He said initial investigation showed that what happened was an accident.

He said all city government vehicles are not allowed to travel outside the city without permission from the head of office but since it involves compassion wherein the CSWS is very much involved in, then the driver has no liability.

"We don't give favors to the employees of this office. And we didn't treat the driver as an employee but as a constituent when he sought help," Boholst said. (FREEMAN)