Council out to review Davao’s relationship with LBP

THE City Council of Davao will review the relationship between the City Government and Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) in the aftermath of Councilor Paolo Duterte's claim that the bank has delayed approval of his barangay’s loan application.

Councilor Melchor V. Quitain said the committee on finance, ways and means, and appropriations chaired by Councilor Myrna Dalodo Ortiz and Majority Floor Leader Councilor Tomas Monteverde IV will look into the process and seek answers to queries and complaints of Duterte during the regular session last Tuesday.

Duterte, in a privilege speech, chided LBP for its allegedly delaying for two years now their barangay's loan request, which will be used to purchase a fire truck and closed circuit television cameras (CCTVs) for his constituents in Catalunan Grande.

He said they have planned to purchase these items since May 2011 after numerous crimes and fire incidents happened in the village.

"This is not a threat. This is a statement of policy which, as a village chief, I am making and thereby meeting my responsibility," an angry Duterte said in his privilege speech.

When asked to comment on the matter, Quitain said the local lawmaking body will try to find out what really happened.

"I don't think there's an anomaly," Quitain said, adding there are just things that need to be tackled why the loan is not acted upon.

"I don’t think we can call that miscommunication. Somewhere along the way, there was a lapse. I really don't know what the lapse but it somehow delayed the processing of the loan," he said.

He quoted Duterte as saying that a delay for a minute or two can make a lot of difference; hence the need to purchase fire truck is firmly noted.

He said Duterte has requested the City Council to consider his privilege speech into first reading. The process to review, he said, is mainly to "just clarify things."

"So that other barangays who intend to borrow money from the LBP should also be told on what they should do so that the loans can either be approved or disapproved," Quitain said.

He said after the investigation, the council can only make recommendations based on the findings and it is the executive department that will decide on the matter.

Sun.Star Davao tried to reach LBP for its side of the issue but was told that there was no official statement released yet regarding the matter.