HARMONY AT last.
Divergent political creeds can be harmonized by common economic pursuits. So the Bicolano from Bulacan, veteran newsman Ben Gamos, was wont to say.
Yeah, contentious political personalities and issues can be harmonized too, by public interests.
So we are most happy to read in the papers that the Pampanga mayors Thursday last week “have unanimously approved” the P204.8 million to pursue the 2009 development plan of the province.
Yeah, even as we noted some inaccuracy in the “unanimous” approval, given that it was not all but “majority of the mayors” that attended the meeting of the Provincial Development Council (PDC) chaired by Gov. Eddie T. Panlilio.
It must be noted that previous PDC meetings further widened the already great divide between the governor and the mayors. The first meeting notably, when the promised P3 million per municipality in development projects was hijacked in delivery.
Some lessons learned there, we hope. Some breast-beating too, apparently. Hence the mayors’ approval of the P204.8 million parcel of the 20 percent development fund.
It helped too – tremendously, most apparently – that each of the 20 towns got P4 million – no, not in cash, dummy – for priority construction projects as determined by the mayors.
Quick to the draw here is Mabalacat Mayor Boking Morales whose town’s share is already allocated for the concreting of roads in Barangays Sta. Ines, Duquit, Dau, San Francisco, and Lakandula.
Out of the 20 percent development fund, P80 million is set for the construction and maintenance of roads and bridges; P42 million, for the repair of government buildings, hospitals and schools; and P2 million for the construction of artesian well systems, among others.
It was this apportionment – “well distributed in key concerns” – that spurred the mayors’ “immediate approval.” So confirmed both Apalit Mayor Jun Tetangco and Floridablanca Mayor Eddie Guerrero .
The approving bit done, comes now the call to action.
Mexico Mayor Teddy Tumang strongly urged the governor to hasten the implementation of the priority programs, his – Teddy’s – eyes focused at the coming elections.
No, not for him to get some political mileage out of his P4 million share. Tumang has a lot to offer his constituents – the ongoing construction of the town’s community hospital, the recently inaugurated San Jose Malino-Anao Bridge only the most recent of them – more than enough to avalanche any pretender to his post, a certain Pichay woman included.
“The governor should start the mobilization of these projects and not allow them to be impeded as they might be overtaken by the election period,” Tumang said.
Yeah, right. Delay in service delivery is denial of service in actuality.
For Guagua Mayor Ricardo Rivera, it would do well to all concerned if the municipal projects be undertaken “by administration” utilizing the resources of the provincial engineering office.
“The province can do the construction by administration or by contract. This way, the province can actually funnel more of the intended budget for the project,” Rivera said.
Agreed Guerrero, adding that municipality-based manpower be tapped for the projects.
A receptive Panlilio said he would take into discernment, er, consideration the recommendations of the mayors.
So, all’s well that ends well? For the mayors, for this issue, for the time being, maybe.
But not for the sangguniang panlalawigan.
Senior Board Member Cris Garbo questioned the non-inclusion of the board in the entitlements to the 20 percent development fund.
“We have been airing this from the beginning that board members should be given at least P3 million in projects because we also have our constituents to attend to. The problem here is we were not given a chance to air our concern on this matter,” Garbo raged. As usual, when he finds the SP “discriminated” against.
Garbo says Panlilio should have been “more discerning” to have included an appropriation for the board members.
“Remember, it is still the SP that will approve the appropriation,” Garbo grinned through gritted teeth. No threat there. Only a promise. That we discerned. No political peace as yet.
Divergent political creeds can be harmonized by common economic pursuits. So the Bicolano from Bulacan, veteran newsman Ben Gamos, was wont to say.
Yeah, contentious political personalities and issues can be harmonized too, by public interests.
So we are most happy to read in the papers that the Pampanga mayors Thursday last week “have unanimously approved” the P204.8 million to pursue the 2009 development plan of the province.
Yeah, even as we noted some inaccuracy in the “unanimous” approval, given that it was not all but “majority of the mayors” that attended the meeting of the Provincial Development Council (PDC) chaired by Gov. Eddie T. Panlilio.
It must be noted that previous PDC meetings further widened the already great divide between the governor and the mayors. The first meeting notably, when the promised P3 million per municipality in development projects was hijacked in delivery.
Some lessons learned there, we hope. Some breast-beating too, apparently. Hence the mayors’ approval of the P204.8 million parcel of the 20 percent development fund.
It helped too – tremendously, most apparently – that each of the 20 towns got P4 million – no, not in cash, dummy – for priority construction projects as determined by the mayors.
Quick to the draw here is Mabalacat Mayor Boking Morales whose town’s share is already allocated for the concreting of roads in Barangays Sta. Ines, Duquit, Dau, San Francisco, and Lakandula.
Out of the 20 percent development fund, P80 million is set for the construction and maintenance of roads and bridges; P42 million, for the repair of government buildings, hospitals and schools; and P2 million for the construction of artesian well systems, among others.
It was this apportionment – “well distributed in key concerns” – that spurred the mayors’ “immediate approval.” So confirmed both Apalit Mayor Jun Tetangco and Floridablanca Mayor Eddie Guerrero .
The approving bit done, comes now the call to action.
Mexico Mayor Teddy Tumang strongly urged the governor to hasten the implementation of the priority programs, his – Teddy’s – eyes focused at the coming elections.
No, not for him to get some political mileage out of his P4 million share. Tumang has a lot to offer his constituents – the ongoing construction of the town’s community hospital, the recently inaugurated San Jose Malino-Anao Bridge only the most recent of them – more than enough to avalanche any pretender to his post, a certain Pichay woman included.
“The governor should start the mobilization of these projects and not allow them to be impeded as they might be overtaken by the election period,” Tumang said.
Yeah, right. Delay in service delivery is denial of service in actuality.
For Guagua Mayor Ricardo Rivera, it would do well to all concerned if the municipal projects be undertaken “by administration” utilizing the resources of the provincial engineering office.
“The province can do the construction by administration or by contract. This way, the province can actually funnel more of the intended budget for the project,” Rivera said.
Agreed Guerrero, adding that municipality-based manpower be tapped for the projects.
A receptive Panlilio said he would take into discernment, er, consideration the recommendations of the mayors.
So, all’s well that ends well? For the mayors, for this issue, for the time being, maybe.
But not for the sangguniang panlalawigan.
Senior Board Member Cris Garbo questioned the non-inclusion of the board in the entitlements to the 20 percent development fund.
“We have been airing this from the beginning that board members should be given at least P3 million in projects because we also have our constituents to attend to. The problem here is we were not given a chance to air our concern on this matter,” Garbo raged. As usual, when he finds the SP “discriminated” against.
Garbo says Panlilio should have been “more discerning” to have included an appropriation for the board members.
“Remember, it is still the SP that will approve the appropriation,” Garbo grinned through gritted teeth. No threat there. Only a promise. That we discerned. No political peace as yet.
