By Emmanuel T. Erediano
Variety News Staff

THIS fiscal year, all executive departments will pay their own utility costs.
Department of Lands and Natural Resources Secretary Ignacio Dela Cruz yesterday said the finance department will no longer pay the utility costs of government offices.
He said each department is now provided annually with a certain amount of money to pay their own bills with the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.
“It may or may not be enough,” Dela Cruz said, adding that if the utility expenses for the whole year exceed their budget, DLNR would have to find a way to pay for the additional cost.
He said different departments are issued different budgets, which now include utility payments.
DLNR, he added, will get $130,000 for its FY 2007 utility payments.
Considering the department’s functions and areas of concern, Dela Cruz said sticking to their budget for utilities may be a “challenge.”
But this, he added, will also oblige DLNR and all agencies to monitor the use of utilities in strict compliance with the administration’s austerity measures.
Dela Cruz said the administration has been monitoring the utility usage of government agencies for the past two months now.