Opposition legislators lambasted the Government Information Office's (GIO) NT$1.1 billion promotions project again yesterday, this time suggesting that the project is a tactic to extort funds from other government agencies.
"The information provided by the GIO has not clearly indicated the sources of the fund, the purpose of the fund or details as to how the fund will function," charged PFP Legislator Liu Wen-hsiung (
Liu was referring to a list provided by the GIO detailing how the numerous government agencies would share the NT$1.1 billion advertising budget. The information was provided at Liu's request after his press conference last week.
At that conference Liu criticized the GIO's plan combine advertising budgets for various agencies including state-owned enterprises such as Chung-Hwa Telecom and Taipower.
Liu has also accused the GIO of manipulating the advertising in a bid to boost President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) image in the run-up to the election next March.
Yesterday, Liu alleged that individual government agencies were in the dark about how their budgets were to be used.
He charged that the GIO was extorting funds from the various government agencies and using its "uniform purchase" policy as cover.
The GIO has dismissed such allegations categorically, explaining that the department was integrating the advertising budgets of various government agencies in order to achieve the economies afforded by bulk purchasing.
Liu and Pan said that they would monitor the whole bidding process and would appeal to the Control Yuan if they suspected any irregularities.
When asked to comment, GIO Deputy Director-General Hung Chiang-chuan (
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