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BIZ WHIZ
The Go Negosyo caravan in Iloilo awarded Friday the inspiring Ilonggo entrepreneurs in the city and province. (Standing from left) Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Vilar, Antonio Steven Chan of Central Azucarera de San Antonio, Angel de Leon of Taytay sa Kauswagan, Inc., Salvador Sarabia of Sarabia Manor Hotel and Convention Center, Kenneth Uy of La Filipina Uygongco Corp. (in behalf of Alfonso Uy), Atty. Joseph Vincent Go of Light of Glory Taxi Services, Tomas Hautea Sr. of Retcem Bangus Hatchery and Farm, Jose Gerardo Guadarrama of Original Biscocho House, Arsenio Rafael of AM Builders Depot, Johnny Que of Waffle Time, Edgar Sia of Mang Inasal and Gaita Fores of Cibo Restaurant. (Front row from left) Terence Uygongco of Philippine Foremost Milling Co., Iloilo Business Club chair Antonio Jon, Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship founding trustee and Presidential consultant on entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion and Presidential Assistant Raul Banias. (Photo by Tara Yap)
PGMA meddles in Pavia road project fiasco
By Francis Allan L. Angelo
PRESIDENT Gloria Arroyo has reportedly intervened in the squabble between Mayor Arcadio Gorriceta of Pavia, Iloilo and the Department of Public Works and Highways’ Iloilo 4th Engineering District over a P28-million road project.
Presidential assistant for Panay and Guimaras Raul Banias said President Arroyo has ordered the concreting of the 3.4-km Pagsangaan-Tigum-Cabugao Norte provincial road in Pavia.
Banias said the President told Executive Secretary Ermita to settle the issue between Gorriceta and 4th district Engr. George Suy on who should handle and what to do with the road project.
Gorriceta, who worked for the release of the P28-million funding of the project, earlier riled at Suy and Rep. Judy Syjuco (2nd district, Iloilo) for trying to “hijack” the project upon knowing that the funds were already available.
The mayor first broached the asphalting of the Pagsangaan-Tigum-Cabugao Norte road to Banias as part of the Panay rehabilitation efforts.
Banias then endorsed the proposal to DPWH regional director Rolando Asis who forwarded the same to their central office.
Gorriceta later offered to Asis that the municipal government undertakes the road concreting project instead of asphalting. The mayor said the arrangement will be spelled out in a memorandum of agreement between the local government and DPWH.
DPWH assistant regional director Joby Cordon informed Gorriceta last September 4 that some P10.5 million for the road project was released to the DPWH 4th Engineering District based in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo. Cordon said the money was released upon the request of Rep. Syjuco.
In her letter to DPWH Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane dated September 9, Rep. Syjuco said while they support the concreting of the Pagsangaan-Tigum-Cabugao Norte road, “we object vehemently to the request of the mayor of Pavia to administer the work.”
“Simply just like the rest of us, the town should limit its affairs to local governance and should not be in the construction business of national government public projects. The DPWH is the sole agency for public projects which it (sic) may itself administer or bid out to qualified contractors. The town is not a business entity that can undertake the business of national government public works construction,” Syjuco said.
Gorriceta said he was surprised when Suy informed him last September 5 that the project was awarded to Patrila Construction Co. through negotiated contract.
Suy, according to Gorriceta, said the scope of work is “repair and restoration” by filling the road with dakal-dakal (sand and gravel), not asphalting nor concreting because they will just “restore” the gravel road to its original form.
The mayor said he is equally surprised by Syjuco’s sudden interest in the project “when before they said they don’t want to touch provincial road projects.”
“Why the sudden interest (in the project)? Before, then Congressman Augusto Syjuco said they don’t want to fund provincial roads because it is the work of the provincial government. But when they learned that there are available funds for the Pagsangaan-Tigum-Cabugao Norte road, they intervened,” Gorriceta said.
Suy denied Gorriceta’s claim saying the mayor misunderstood him. He said they have yet to award the project to any contractor and that the P10.5 million is still intact.
Suy’s denial prompted Gorriceta to call the latter a “liar” over live radio interviews the past days.
Suy said they will still evaluate the capabilities of the Pavia municipal government in undertaking the road project.
“If the mayor really wants to administer the project, he can always submit his proposal so we can evaluate it. Or the Iloilo provincial government can also ask the Department of Budget and Management to transfer the fund from the 4th Engineering Office to the Capitol. Bahala na mag-usap ang provincial government at si Mayor Gorriceta,” Suy said.
Asis said that in order for Pavia to handle the project, it must have undertaken a similar road construction with a contract price at least 50 percent of the Pagsangaan-Tigum-Cabugao Norte project.
Asis said the municipal government must have ample technical personnel and equipment for the project.
Gorriceta said he is happy with President Arroyo’s move to intervene in the issue and order the road concreting project.
“At least, we got what we want which is to put up a concrete road. Our people in the area won’t suffer from dust and mud anymore when the project is realized. And most of all, we were able to protect people’s money from falling in wrong hands,” Gorriceta said.
The mayor also thanked Banias and Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, who chairs the Task Force Panay, for bringing the road project issue to the President’s attention.
By Francis Allan L. Angelo
ILONGGA Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago has lent support to the creation of a second congressional district in Iloilo City.
Rep. Raul Gonzalez Jr., author of House Bill No. 4256 which seeks to create the second legislative district in the city, said Santiago will file a counterpart bill in the Senate pushing for the same move.
Gonzalez said Santiago will also woo the support of other Ilonggo senators for the “city split bill.”
Aside from Rep. Gonzalez, his father Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr. is also lobbying with senators to approve the creation of the second congressional district seen to benefit the metropolis.
Santiago cannot be reached for confirmation.
Both father and son are optimistic that the bill will pass Congress despite opposition from some Ilonggo lawyers and lawmakers.
A group led by Atty. Dan Cartagena is questioning the passage of HB 4256 saying Iloilo City has not yet reached the required population for the creation of another legislative district.
The 1987 Constitution provides that a congressional district must have at least a population of 250,000. Based on the latest population survey conducted by the National Statistics Office, Iloilo City has a total population of 418,000 only.
Cartagena also said the House of Representatives passed HB 4256 sans public hearing in Iloilo City.
Cartagena said they sent a letter to Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino, chair of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments, questioning the city split bill.
The Liga ng mga Barangay-Iloilo City chapter headed by Irene Ong earlier passed a resolution expressing support for Gonzalez’s bill.
Ong said two congressional districts will bring more pork barrel which can be used to develop the city.
By Francis Allan L. Angelo
THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has warned motorists against using defective car batteries that have been recalled from the market.
The recalled batteries bear the brand name GS Tropical Battery. The recall order covered battery size 46D-26L with production codes 230-7A-2S. Battery size 158-78-2S and 60D-21L with production codes 219-7A-1K and 230-7B-1K were also included in the recall order.
The DTI said the subject batteries have thin plates and made of cheap and substandard materials.
Based on the tests conducted by the DTI’s Bureau of Production Standard last March, the recalled batteries hurdled the high rate test but failed to pass the field discharge and reserve capacity test.
In Luzon, the DTI has disposed the recalled batteries to prevent them from circulating in the market.
In an interview over Bombo Radyo, DTI regional director Dominic Abad said the recall order is effective nationwide since the defective batteries are distributed all over the country.
Ronnie Tan, manager of Energy Marketing Corporation Battery Specialist and Service Oriented which is the distributor of GS Tropical Battery in Western Visayas, said they have recalled and disposed their stocks of defective batteries.
Tan said they are only distributing new batteries which passed DTI tests. He added they immediately replaced defective products to protect their reputation.
scrimgeour
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