Paz Radaza’s governance

I ATTENDED the press conference organized by Megaworld Corp. at Radisson Blu Hotel Monday night. Megaworld, which claims to be the country's leading residential condominium developer and business process outsourcing (BPO) developer, and Landlord are developing a 16-hectare township in Mactan island. The conglomerate is behind the construction of Eastwood City, McKinley Hill and Newport City in Metro Manila.

Bobby G. Nalzaro

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Its project in Lapu-Lapu City called “The Mactan Newtown” is situated beside Shrangrila Hotel in Barangay Mactan. They are putting up four clustered buildings ideal for residents and BPO offices. It will be a high-end community with a shopping mall, theaters, supermarket, sports and wellness facilities. It is expected to be completed in 2016.

I asked the company officers if they encountered any hanky-panky, like political pressure and extortion, at the city hall when they applied for permits. They claimed they have not encountered such “bad experience” in dealing with local government officials.

If this is true, then it's good news for investors in Mactan island. Does this mean that the administration of Mayor Paz Radaza is following President Noynoy Aquino's “tuwid na daan” slogan?

We heard reports that during the administration of former mayor and now congressman Arturo “Boy” Radaza, some city officials demand money from businessmen who want to invest in the city. This prompted some big business interests to pull out or forgo their investments in that place.

Reports said that a top city official would even demand a condominium unit before any permit for condominium construction could be approved. The official was not charged with graft in connection with these allegations.

Boy Radaza was among those criminally and administratively charged for the overpriced decorative lamppost installed along the Asean summit route in 2007. The administrative case was dismissed following his reelection in 2007 but the criminal case is pending before the anti-graft office.

Well, we have to take at face value the statement of Megaworld officers about not experiencing corruption in dealing with city officials. If this is true, then we have to give credit to the present city officials led by Mayor Paz Radaza. Well, Boy is Boy and Paz is Paz. Even if they are a couple, they have different personalities and styles of management.

Paz is very organized. And I think Boy cannot influence or control her. She is intelligent and articulate. She is very transparent. Her constant dealing with the media and the way she accommodates her constituents in her office is a good sign of being transparent. We have to give her credit for her governance. Bravo.

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I appreciate the move of Cebu City south district Rep. Tomas Osmeña to give monetary reward to PO2 Lea Juarez, the policewoman assigned with the Cebu Provincial Police Office who shot and killed a robber during a hot pursuit operation two weeks ago.

Osmeña's act would encourage our law enforcers to perform beyond their call of duty when necessity arises.

Juarez, who was riding in a motorcycle in tandem with a fellow police officer, chanced upon a robbery incident at the Ayala Business Park. The suspects, also riding tandem in a motorcycle, fled after they robbed a woman of her valuables.

Juarez and her buddy chased the robbers who were later cornered near Capitol building.

She did not hesitate to shoot one of the robbers when the latter attempted to pull out a firearm. The other suspect was arrested.

Juarez had received a commendation and a cash reward from the Police Regional Office (PRO 7) and a 9 mm service firearm from the provincial police office. Again, congratulations, PO2 Juarez, for a job well done and thank you to Osmeña for recognizing Juarez's heroic act. What about Mayor Mike Rama and Gov. Gwen Garcia, will they not recognize Juarez's good deeds? Just asking.