SCUTTLEBUTT

Nosy Tarsee heard from the grapevine that several mayors and a board member from Cebu were on a European tour while their province was reeling from the double blow of typhoon “Tino” and a 6.9-magnitude earthquake.

The absence of these local officials reportedly prompted the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to impose a travel ban on all local executives from 9 to 15 November amid the onslaught of super typhoon “Uwan.”

The move is meant to ensure that mayors, governors, and other officials remain in their areas to oversee pre-disaster preparations, emergency response and recovery operations, Nosy Tarsee was told.

Seven mayors and one provincial board member reportedly secured foreign travel authority approvals for personal trips to the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe between 30 October and as late as 11 November.

Critics blasted the officials for their “lack of delicadeza” and insensitivity, arguing that they should have stayed to help their constituents recover from back-to-back disasters.

Others, however, defended the group, saying the trips were approved long before typhoon Tino’s devastation.

Governor Pamela Baricuatro said an investigation will be conducted, but clarified that “it is not a priority for now,” as the focus remains on rehabilitation and disaster response.

For its part, the DILG said there was nothing irregular in the issuance of the travel clearances, emphasizing that all approvals were granted before the calamity struck.