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Sunday, June 27, 2004
Governor’s record term marked by infra projects, budget feuds
COMPLETION of roads and bridges, efficient delivery of basic health services and housing projects are among the highlights of lawyer Pablo Garcia’s achievements in his nine-year stint as governor of Cebu.
Because of the projects he has implemented, “the outgoing governor has outperformed his predecessors,” said Mathea Baguia, chief provincial budget officer.
Baguia presented the governor’s achievements during the testimonial dinner in his honor Friday night at the Capitol social hall.
All was not rosy for Garcia, though. Under his watch, the Provincial Board (PB) failed to pass the annual budget for 2003 and 2004 because of bickering over items under the governor’s office.
Politics got the better of the legislators, who are divided between the Garcia administration and the opposition allied with Vice Gov. John Osmeña.
It’s ironic since Cebu Province was adjudged first runner-up in the field of local budget administration in 1997 and 1998 during Garcia’s first and second terms.
The P250-million pro-posed megadome, which was Garcia’s pet project, also did not get the green light after the PB argued over the numbers needed to approve an appropriations ordinance.
Their debate even reached the courts.
Baguia pointed out, though, that being the only governor who was elected for three consecutive terms, Garcia enjoyed the people’s trust and confidence.
Before he was elected governor in 1995, Garcia served as congressman representing Cebu’s third district.
Garcia, who turns 79 in September, has implemented road and bridge projects in the different barangays and sitios.
He also had district hospitals repaired and improved and even constructed extensions, as part of his project to deliver basic health services to the poor.
Architect
The erection of a four-story legislative and engineering building, the completion of the Integrated Provincial Health Office in Sudlon, the Performing Arts Center inside the University of the Philippines and the new Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center in Kalunasan were also among Garcia’s major accomplishments.
The Provincial Government, in partnership with the Government Service Insurance System, has also provided housing projects for Capitol employees.
Garcia has also signed deeds of absolute sale for the lots occupied by members of the Old Philippine Railway Residents Association, who have been living there for 33 years.
Vegetable highways, child and family welfare projects, population, nutrition and social services were also among Capitol’s projects.
“If not for the constitutional term limit, we would have reelected him. Gov. Pablo Paras Garcia, the architect of Cebu’s development,” Baguia said, as she ended her presentation. MBG
(June 27, 2004 issue)
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