NOT a single animal has occupied the hub at the Panaad Park and Stadium but it already stank with unpleasant smell called "fishy."
Frankly, I do not agree with Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. when he said that he doesn’t know of the project and so was Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Renante Decena.
If that is so, then whoever is behind the construction of the hub at the Provincial Government's property must be more powerful than the Capitol execs, including Marañon. Can anybody order and spend for the construction without the governor's approval?
No one, in his right mind, would dare touch the property and shell out money for an "unbidded" project with no appropriated budget. The logic is simple, contractors will not fund any construction without assurance that they'll get refunded. It's always "money back guarantee" for them.
What makes this issue more fishy was the claim of the park authorities that they don't know who was responsible for the site development and construction. Building materials were delivered to the site. Workers were allowed entry to the park. All these happened without any written order or memorandum from the Capitol?
Somebody from Capitol might have assured the contractor that he'll get his money back. And somebody from the Panaad Park gave the go signal for the contractor to go ahead with the project. Were the park guards responsible for the controversial construction?
Everybody knows that the security personnel only followed orders. But who gave the order?
The Negros First Animal Hub project is legit with a budget of P10 million. But the process was cut short when it started without the benefit of bidding, which is tantamount to violation of the anti-graft law. And as the governor washes his hands of the controversy, Decena and his men should better be ready.
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Ending the Endo. The end has come for those who've been fighting for the scrapping or banning of labor contractualization.
This is the reality that labor organizations that have been advocating workers' rights have to painstakingly accept the fact that President Rodrigo Duterte has failed to deliver his promise on Endo, which was one of his campaign come-ons during the last presidential election.
But Malacañang had announced that all is not lost yet on the Endo issue.
Hinting another flip-flopping by the Chief Executive, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte may still sign the executive order putting an end to contractualization. Trying to appease the restive labor sector by virtue of an EO that would provide a "band-aid" solution to the problem?
Only Congress can amend the Labor Code that tolerates, if not promotes and protects, this abusive labor practice.