What can you say about House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.'s move to cut down the foreign travel of our congressmen?

Jose Fabello Jr., Cagayan De Oro City: An excellent idea, Mr. Speaker. You’re not only hitting two birds with one stone but several birds with itchy feet.

Ella Arenas, Pangasinan: The move by House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte to cut down the foreign travel of our congressmen is commendable. If not at all-important or urgent, better not.

Agree, unless authorized

Felix Ramento, USA: Unless authorized, like all other government functionaries, our lawmakers should not be allowed to travel abroad at the people’s expense.

Ernesto Oliquiano, Las Piñas City: This move is something that will be much appreciated by Filipino taxpayers; it’s a move that no Speaker of the House had ever done before. Foreign travel at the government’s expense, not only by members of Congress but also by officials and staff of various line agencies, has been greatly abused. In fact, if I may be allowed to suggest, the President should issue an executive order addressed to all government agencies, GOCCs, national or local, limiting foreign travels of its officials and staff to those very necessary.

Joe Nacilla, Las Piñas City: Cutting down the foreign travels of our congressmen is not enough. There must first be a request for foreign travel with the definite purpose therefor. Upon return, the solon must be required to submit a report in connection to the purpose including findings, observation and proposals before said travel expenses are approved. The rationale is to make sure that taxpayers’ money is not used for junkets.

Rey Ibalan, Antipolo City: Long overdue. The foreign travels of our congressmen must be kept to the minimum and aptly justified. Otherwise, they should shoulder their travel expenses.

Easier said than done

Rey Onate, Palayan City: Maganda kung gagawin talaga, ngunit kung salita lang, maganda lang pakinggan.

Arnie Domingo, Quezon City: Speaker Belmonte has his work cut out for him. It will be difficult to change the freewheeling travel habits of our congressmen. Nevertheless, the Speaker should press forward with his plans to rein in travel spending. The public will certainly appreciate it.

Gerii Calupitan, Muntinlupa City: I admire House Speaker Sonny Belmonte Jr.’s move. Ang tanong lang, mangyari naman kaya? Does SB think these pampered sacred cows/crocs will let him reduce their foreign travel without first giving a resistance that will shame Iwo Jima, Bataan and Corregidor? Old habits are hard to break.

Pedro Alagano Sr., Vigan City: Just do it, Mr. Speaker. If complied with, it could open the gates towards more meaningful change. Otherwise, it’s only regarded as mere pogi points.

C.B. Manalastas, Manila: Good move by the Speaker. But will it be strictly followed by our travel bug congressmen?

Edwin Chinel Monares, Rizal: Commendable but we have to wait and see. Speaker Belmonte is a man of his word. Will Speaker Belmonte lord it over the selfish interest of a House with bloated egos? We can only wish the Speaker good luck and more power.

It would save us a lot of money

Ed Alawi, Davao City: It would save us a lot of taxpayers’ money and perhaps improve attendance in Congress sessions. GMA was a globetrotter, so of course, her allies followed.

Robert Young Jr., San Juan: Speaker Belmonte’s move to cut down solons’ foreign travel will save taxpayers trillions of pesos. Solons are allowed around P1 million in traveling expenses, which they do not have to liquidate. Solons bring their families abroad when there is no session in Congress courtesy of Juan dela Cruz. Dozens of solons are always present during Manny Pacquiao’s fights in the US. Pres. Arroyo always traveled with dozens of solons in tow. According to Rep. Guingona who is now a senator, she spent P2.7 billion on foreign trips between 2003 to 2008. She even used P800 million in emergency funds for foreign trips when her budget was exhausted. Cutting official foreign trips should be applied to all government officials including the President and every centavo spent should be liquidated.

Our fiscal position calls for it

Carmela Ramento, Cagayan de Oro City: Clipping the wings of congressmen at this time is only too meaningful for the country faced with fiscal problems. I support your move, Sir Belmonte.

Ruben Viray, Antipolo City: It’s a big relief to our current fiscal situation. Expenses incurred by traveling congressmen cost us big amounts and hardly any return. I am sold to Speaker Belmonte’s plan to cut down our congressmens travel to only once a year as part of the government’s austerity program and streamlining measures. I wish him good luck.

Cris Rivera, Rizal: It’s one applicable measure worth the Lower House’s commendation. A no-nonsense suggestion, it will help ease the problem of having a depleted budget.

Ephraim Africa, Las Piñas City: It is high time for Congress and Senate to cut its expenses and help in the country’s fiscal problem. Pork barrel should be eliminated as well.

June Deoferio, Cavite: It’s a big help to our government in this period of crisis and good for the money to be allocated to priority projects.

They should visit their own districts

Jesus Mendoza, Pangasinan: It’s time that congressmen cut down their foreign travel because they do not need those travels to craft good laws. Instead, they should visit their districts.

Travel privileges shouldn’t be abused

Renato Taylan, Ilocos Norte: Now that’s an honorable call for our congressmen to take heed. Travel privileges shouldn’t be abused but must be prudently exercised.

Eufrocino Linsangan, Isabela: Dapat lang! Those foreign travels of our congressmen are nothing but bakasyon en grande. They spend the people’s money for their own interest.

Edwin Castillo, Tanauan City: Speaker Belmonte made the right move in cutting down the foreign travels of congressmen because these are plain old junkets that include free rides to family and friends.

I.Q. Calata, Parañaque City: Only a fool would object to the move by the good House Speaker of cutting down the foreign travels of congressmen. I hope that, hereon, there will no longer be junkets by our legislators; and on official travels their families will no longer be in tow as often heard or read about. I hope, too, that, hereon, planes carrying any Philippine President on official visits to other countries will not be filled with excess baggage especially when such visits are made in time for a Pacquiao fight or any interesting events abroad. We are happy to know about Speaker Belmonte’s move. Godspeed, Mr. Speaker!

Our legislators must work for the people

Rudy Tagimacruz, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon: It’s the House Speaker moving now. Official foreign travels of our congressmen should really be in aid of legislation only.

Jimmy Donton, Puerto Princesa City: It’s a glorious moment for Filipinos to find their legislators working for the people and not for themselves alone.

Luisito Vallo, Pangasinan: I guess it’s a welcome move so that solons can concentrate on their primary job, which is lawmaking. Would have even been better if solons were not allowed to travel using taxpayers money.

Lucas Banzon Madamba, USA: The move to cut down the foreign travels of the congressmen is justified and proper. A lot of things (such as bills to be acted upon, etc.) still need to be done and focused on in Philippine Congress.

Especially when Congress is in session

Elmo Cruz, Manila: Behind his amiable face, Speaker Belmonte is a disciplinarian leader who strictly means business. Work conscientiously without gallivanting abroad with people’s money. The next move could be full attendance in House sessions and doing one’s homework conscientiously for effective legislation. Being among the veteran politicians, he has been low-profile ever since but is a productive public servant. Let us wish Speaker Belmonte to lead the 15^th Congress in successfully bringing to completion President Aquino’s program of building a better Philippines.

Manuel Abejero, Pangasinan: Those jetsetting crocs in Congress should be banned from traveling especially when Congress is in session. It doesn’t matter whether they are spending their own money or the taxpayers’. What matters is that they are always present during sessions legislating rather than gallivanting around spending precious time doing some monkey business. Yes, Mr. Speaker, sock it to them!

Germi Sison, Cabanatuan City: Congressmen are not in the Navy to see the world. Instead they have to harness their mental faculties to craft laws needed to keep our society in place. Speaker Belmonte must also rule maximizing attendance and keeping a bulletin on their performance including the accounting of their pork barrel. Even if congressmen use their own money for their personal travels abroad, that should be included in the number of their foreign travels that should only be once a year. But better look out, Mr. Speaker, you may lose your speakership.

Deo Durante, Camarines Sur: We do appreciate the move of Speaker Belmonte. It help lessen lavish spending of public funds. Especially when Congress is in session, these congressmen should limit going out of the country. Their attendance in every session is required in passing and approving important bills. Their job is to legislate, not to go on a tour spree spending the people’s money.

Pork barrel should be scrapped

Dennis Montealto, Mandaluyong City: Not just foreign travels but cut down our solons’ pork barrel, too.

The irony of it all

Ana Igloria, Laguna: It is ironic when congressmen spend millions of pesos on foreign travels while 90 per cent of their constituents suffer from poverty in their own provinces, or worse, is when there are people from their areas who die because of the lack of hospitals and doctors. It does not sound reasonable to allocate a higher budget for travels abroad when these all end up as junkets. One manifestation of true public service is to cut down the foreign travels of these politicians. May this move by House Speaker Belmonte, Jr. be realized as soon as possible.

Bad news for congressmen

Rose Leobrera, Manila: That would be a good idea if our congressmen follow. Then we could save a lot of money, which could be used for projects that would benefit the masa and are accounted for properly. However, my impression is, if these congressmen are remnants of the past administration, mahirap baliin ang mga yan. They will still insist and fix records in their favor.

Jim Veneracion, Naga City: This is bad news for Cong. GMA, Suarez and Villarosa. They will have to content themselves with our local chefs and not stateside New York.

Keep up the good work, Mr. Speaker

Miguelito Herrera, Cabanatuan City: I support his idea. The present Congress really needs to clean up its image after a drug bust incident involving one of its own. Besides, those foreign trips are truly suspicious when family members and aides tag along. Expect them to bend the rules once more when Congressman Manny Pacquiao resumes his boxing career.

The Way I See It

Flaviano Manalo Ed.D., Iloilo City: The worst form of corruption in this country is done by the judiciary. We heard of a lot of anomalous and irregular decisions. President Aquino should investigate all irregular decisions. One case to begin with is GR 169632. It is within the purview of the executive office to check the excesses of the court. Thanks for publishing, just in case.

Reactions

Col Ben Paguirigan Jr., Ret., Zamboanga City: ‘Gotcha’ by Jarius Bondoc is something to read everytime it comes out. Yes, indeed, why not publish their names and amounts they receive so BIR will have something to do?

Thelma Acero, Laguna: To Cris Rivera, Rizal: P-Noy may sound vindictive, yes but not for himself but for the Filipino people whom the past administration has wronged.

Views expressed in this section do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The STAR. The STAR does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of readers exercising their right to free expression. The publication also reserves the right to edit contributions to this section as it sees fit.

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