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Wednesday, March 02, 2005
Micame: Prolonging Tomas’ agony
By Rel P. Micame
Development. This corner received an email yesterday from Arnold Camay who said he is from Switzerland but presently residing at Hilltop Homes in Consolacion. Camay expressed his approval for the plan of three Cebuano solons to convert each of their respective districts into a province to spur development. He said, “Look at Naga in Southern Cebu and Bogo in the north. Until now, these two municipalities remain as towns”.
PROLONG. How long will President Arroyo prolong the agony of Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña in looking for funds to pay the interest and principal of the SRP loan with the Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC)?
Until such time when Osmeña will say, “I now surrender and let the National Government assume the loan amounting to billions with JBIC.” Is the National treasury now financially capable to meet the obligation? I don’t think so. The National Government is even hard-pressed in meeting the budgetary deficit.
The president is not even certain that the VAT hike Bill will pass through the Senate. Sen. Manuel Villar, chairman of the Senate finance committee, told the Cebuano listeners during a radio interview that the Upper Chamber is likely to reject the VAT hike Bill.
So why prolong the agony? If Talisay City Hall questioned the survey of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) which stated that the Cebu City Government encroached only two hectares contrary to Talisay City’s claim of 56 hectares, let the court decide on this matter later. Don’t compromise the interest of Cebu City and the National Government.
The President must act, the sooner the better. She must order DENR Secretary Michael Defensor to issue the special patent for the South Reclamation Project (SRP), annotating the claim of Talisay as lien on the 56 hectares. Let the two neighboring local government units fight in court the ownership of the 56 hectares. The case can drag on for many years.
TALISAY’S CLAIM. Many quarters are asking why Talisay City Hall filed the claim on the 56 hectares only when the Cebu City Government applied for the special patent? Why did former Talisay City mayor now Rep. Eduardo Gullas (Cebu, 1st district) not question the SRP at the early stage of reclamation? Why did he wait until the reclamation was finished?
The case can drag on for many years. Why can’t the two disputing parties reach a compromise?
HOT MEAT. If there are hot meats at the Mandaue City Public market, it goes to show that the meat inspectors and the police are not vigilant. This is the reason why AVM Bernardo, lessee of the City abattoir in Barangay Labogon, is requesting a reduction of the monthly rental.
If the meat inspectors and the Mandaue police are vigilant enough, no illegal slaughter of pigs and other livestock can be done except at the Labogon abattoir. Although Mayor Thadeo Ouano is amenable to the lessee’s request, he should order the City’s PNP director to step up the campaign against illegal butchers.
CPPO DIRECTOR. If Supt. Vicente Loot is appointed Cebu Provincial PNP director, then we can say: “What Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia wants, she gets.”
The lady governor had long wanted Supt. Loot, husband of Gwen’s political ally, Daanbantayan Mayor Ma. Luisa Loot, to be the next PNP provincial chief.
Loot was reported by the local papers to have reported to the PNP regional office for his new assignment. I hope Loot gets the new post.
Loot is the choice of Gov. Garcia to replace Senior Supt. Maximo Calimlim. If Loot is appointed PNP provincial post, he will assume it in acting capacity until he gets promoted senior superintendent. But PNP Chief Edgardo Aglipay, who was in Cebu to bid farewell to his men, said Loot cannot assume his post until Calimlim assumes his new post at Camp Crame with the rank of chief superintendent. It appears that Loot’s appointment as the next provincial police chief is as certain as the sun rising in the east tomorrow morning.
SCRIPTURE READING. Suggested reading of the Holy Bible for today is found in the Gospel according to St. Matthew 5:17-19 “Teaching about the law,” and for Mar. 4—St. Mark 12:28-34 “The great commandment.”
Email: relmicame@yahoo.com fax (6332) 423-9956 cell: 0928-4435044.
(March 2, 2005 issue)
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