Village residents dare lawmaker: ‘Finish infra projects’
-A A +AFriday, March 8, 2013
BARELY three weeks before the start of the local election campaign, Cagayan de Oro’s Representative Rufus Rodriguez (second district) has been hounded by how the embattled lawmaker manage his budget allocation for infrastructure projects.
In an open letter sent to Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro, residents of Barangay Indahag urged Rodriguez to start the construction of the multi-purpose stage of the barangay’s basketball court promised to them before the supposed implementation of the road concreting in Barangay Sambulawan in El Salvador City, Misamis Oriental.
“We challenged Congressman Rufus to finish his neglected infra projects in District 2 before allocating funds to another municipality where his farm is located,” the statement read.
Rodriguez earmarked at least P5 million for the said road concreting under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
He earlier denied allegations of diverting his funds to his farm in El Salvador City, Misamis Oriental.
Rodriguez said El Salvador Mayor Alfredo Tan asked him if he can facilitate for the release of at least P5 million funds for road concreting.
“When I consulted the Department of Agriculture (DA) I was advised that it cannot be done since it is outside my congressional district,” Rodriguez said, adding: “They can check it with the Commission on Audit or with the DA if there was a release of the said amount. It was Mayor Tan who asked for P5-million road project but was denied.”
Moreover, City Councilor Ian Mark Nacaya challenged Rodriguez and the DPWH on the issue of transparency in delivering infrastructure projects in his congressional district.
Rodriguez is seeking re-election and on his final term as second district representative of Cagayan de Oro.
Nacaya, who run opposite Rodriguez in the coming May 2013 local and national election, said Rodriguez is seemingly evading from complying with the rule on transparency imposed by the DPWH’s order 37, series of 2010 issued by Secretary Rogelio Singson in connection with President Benigno Aquino III’s anti-Epal campaign.
Rodriguez said, however, that all his projects have been implemented by the proper government agencies.
“Absolutely untrue. All my projects are regularly audited and approved by the Commission on Audit,” he said.
Published in the Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro newspaper on March 09, 2013.
Local news
Forum rules: Do not use obscenity. Some words have been banned. Stick to the topic. Do not veer away from the discussion. Be coherent and respectful. Do not shout or use CAPITAL LETTERS!
