Says party was “well-deserved” by employees
(Eagle News) — The head of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office on Thursday defended the conduct of a year-end party for the agency’s employees, adding he was open to any inquiry into the money spent on the celebration.
Jose Jorge Corpuz made the pronouncement a day after Sandra Cam, the newly appointed PCSO director, slammed the “lavish” party reportedly held at the EDSA Shangri-la Hotel, a five-star hotel.
Cam said the money shelled out for the celebration was around P10 million.
According to Corpuz, who spoke over dzbb, the party–which was held “only once a year”—was “well-deserved” by the agency’s employees.
He added that the P10 million figure had been “exaggerated,” noting that P6 million had been spent all in all.
“We have to reward our people also and recognize the work of our workers,” he said.
As to why a five-star hotel was chosen as venue, Corpuz said: “There’s no any venue that can accommodate that much na malapit sa opisina namin.”
Cam, who took her oath as PCSO director only this month, had said the amount spent on the party was exorbitant.
She said the celebration should have been held in the PCSO headquarters or in each department.
PCSO general manager Alexander Balutan also noted that the Department of Budget and Management had approved a budget of P14 million for the party.
He said, however, that he himself reduced this to P6 million.