Nacaya told Rodriguez: Comply provisions

CAGAYAN de Oro City Councilor Ian Mark Nacaya has challenged Representative Rufus Rodriguez (2nd district) to strictly follow the provision of the government’s Anti-Epal campaign.

Nacaya said Rodriguez has not “seemingly complied with the provisions” of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) order No. 37, series of 2010 issued by Secretary Rogelio Singson in connection with President Benigno Aquino III’s anti-Epal campaign.

Nacaya said Rodriguez is “seemingly evading from complying” with the rule on transparency imposed by the DPWH.

“The DPWH order clearly prohibited putting names in projects, especially if the money used for the said project is from the government,” he said.

Nacaya also questioned the projects’ “billboards,” which he said lacked the actual amount.

Nacaya said the DPWH is also involved by not complying with its own order, but Rodriguez denied the allegations, citing that all his projects have been implemented by proper government agencies.

“Absolutely untrue. All my projects are regularly audited and approved by the Commission on Audit,” Rodriguez said.

Related to this, Rodriguez led Monday a series of turnover ceremonies and groundbreaking of multi-million road projects, day care centers and classroom buildings in different barangays within his district.

Rodriguez conducted the activities together with the barangay officials in each locality, DPWH officials and the Department of Agriculture (DA).

According to him, at least 37 various projects close to P187 million were turned over and broke ground in Barangay Bugo, Agusan, Tablon, Cugman, Gusa, Lapasan, Nazareth, Macasandig, Camaman-an, Consolacion and Puntod.

The projects include slope protection, farm-to-market and concreted roads in Barangays Bugo, Agusan, Tablon and Cugman, and the P500,000 constructed box culvert in Barangay Agusan, repaired multi-purpose building, and two day care centers in Barangays Tablon.

Groundbreakings were also held for the construction of two-storey four classrooms, concreting of farm-to-market roads in Barangays Bugo, Agusan, Tablon, Cugman, Gusa and Camaman-an, including the upgrading of road leading to FS Catanico.

“The emphasis of these farm-to-market roads is to open the agricultural road for our farmers aron dili na sila maglisod pagdala sa ilang mga abot sa ubos,” Rodriguez said.

He said the budget allocated for the farm-to-market roads were taken from the DA through his initiative while the rest was allocated from his Priority Development Assistance Fund.

Rodriguez assured that all the construction of the projects in his district will be completed before the end of his term. (Annabelle L. Ricalde/Abigail Chee Kee Malalis)