For sale: government cars

Majority of an estimated 300 government vehicles under the Executive Branch will be recalled and sold as part of plans by the administration to liquidate assets, cut back on gas expenses, and bolster its faltering financial condition.

Gov. Benigno R. Fitial told reporters that his administration arrived at this decision yesterday, to include all government cars that were bought using local funds.

This means that government vehicles that were acquired using federal funds or grants won’t be affected, as well as those vehicles owned or leased by the Legislature, the Judiciary, and the autonomous agencies.

Police cars, ambulances and other vehicles needed to provide essential services will be also retained.

“I will be asking everyone to turn in the vehicles so we could sell them. This is part of our cost-cutting measures where we are doing as much as we can to cut the costs of running the government,” said Fitial.

Press secretary Charles Reyes said that the Department of Finance would come up with a formula that would enable the government to get a reasonable price for these used vehicles.

When asked how officials and government employees will get around, particularly in the performance of their official functions, Fitial said that they would retain a few vehicles for this purpose. He also cited that most Executive Branch officials are already using their own vehicles and buying their own gas.

As for government vehicles that are leased from car dealers on-island, Reyes said most of them are assigned to lawmakers, not to officials of the Executive Branch.

He said that Governor Fitial and Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Villagomez are using the only two vehicles leased by the administration. Neither of them will turn in their leased vehicles.

“Their cars are not going to be included. [The governor and lieutenant governor] have certain needs. They are heads of the state. They’re just going to continue to use their vehicles responsibly,” Reyes said.

He said this will be an ideal opportunity for people on- and off-island to buy reasonably priced used cars. “Even off-island buyers such as those in Guam can buy these cars and sell them off,” he added.

Fitial emphasized that they would only entertain cash purchases of these vehicles.