Pangasinan dad spearheads gov’t fund drive

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — A fund drive to help the national government ease the country’s fiscal crisis was jumpstarted here when fifth district board member Dionisio "Saffe" Villar Jr. announced he is donating his salary for two months to the fund.

Villar told The STAR he is giving away his salary for September and October amounting to more or less P50,000, including his Representation and Transportation Allowance (RATA). A board member here receives a net monthly salary of about P17,000 plus around P7,050 in RATA.

Though he admits his donation is just a small amount, he is nonetheless hoping other people would be similarly touched and would help in finding a solution to the fiscal crisis the government is facing. Villar said it’s up to the national government to take full responsibility and control of his donation saying that in this time of economic crisis, the spirit of bayanihan, which Filipinos are noted for, should prevail.

Villar said he has initiated talks with some of his friends from civic organizations who, like him, are willing to give "a little something" to the national government, as their contribution to avert the looming financial crisis.

"Maliit lang na halaga ito kung ikukumpara natin sa milyun-milyon na donasyon ng mga mayayamang negosyante at pulitiko para makatulong sa fiscal crisis natin (This is just a small amount compared to the millions of pesos donated by rich businessmen and other politicians to get over the fiscal crisis)," Villar said.

Villar is apprehensive though that fellow government officials might misconstrue his act as politically tainted. But he said he only wants to help the country and the administration of President Arroyo, a kabaleyan (provincemate).