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Monday, July 24, 2006
Mongaya: Goodbye general
By Anol Mongaya
Suspended Airport Manager Adelberto Yap had it coming when he crossed Gov. Gwen Garcia. What was he thinking? He thought his backer in Manila could still swing it for him despite all the issues raised against his continued stay?
The retired general should have learned from the American general Douglas McArthur who chose to fade away after his stint in the military. In choosing to stay on like a leech at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA), alleged anomalies emerged leading to this unceremonious exit.
Yap’s exit should now be seized by the MCIAA board to set things right at the airport. Let’s find somebody qualified and with the necessary eligibility. The next months are crucial as the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) summit approaches. We need to have somebody capable at the helm unfettered by such controversies that hounded Yap.
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I hope cool heads will prevent the controversy between the Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) and Mactan rock from further worsening to prevent the disruption of water supply to Mactan. It seems Mactan Rock officials believe some quarters inside MCWD want to ease them out as water supplier in favor of the Carmen water project of the Ayalas. But then, the whole controversy is throwing dirt on all the actors involved. I think it will benefit them all especially the consumers if they just settle the conflict quietly as soon as possible.
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The lawyers who had bonded together in seeking legal relief to the increases in MCWD rates should also look into related issues affecting consumers. For instance, the MCWD bureaucracy is so inefficient, the teller sometimes tell you their billing is incorrect. Complaining will only get you to see practically everybody at the MCWD except for the one who could get you the right answers.
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While the provincial government has expressed interest in taking over the management of the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC), Cebu City Hall has been ironically looking for ways to give up the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC). Well, the province is not saddled with multi-billion peso loans. In fact it now enjoys a fund surplus. Cebu City, on other hand, is cutting on costly social services.
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If District Collector Ricardo Belmonte wants to surpass the goodwill sown by former Cebu customs chief Lourdes Mangaoang, conducting courtesy calls is definitely the way to go. Imagine, the former district chief received citations from local businessmen after her stint compared to the good riddance towards former collector Billy Bibit. But turn off the blaring sirens, sir. You are not the president or a dignitary. Bati og dating, sir.
But I’m definitely not buying the analysis that Rep. Eddie Gullas had a hand in Belmonte’s transfer to Cebu to deprive Mayor Tomas Osmeña of an ally at the ports. My sources still point to top brass efforts to convince Ding So to leave the MICP post.
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Can British national Hung Chin Chang be a state witness in the shabu lab case? I don’t think so. Is he less guilty than the driver who was merely employed to drive them around Cebu?
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Will the opposition be able to mount a show of force during President Arroyo’s State of the Nation Address today? Let’s see. If they will still fail to do so, we can’t expect them to trigger a groundswell of protest in the near future. Perhaps, they should just allow President Arroyo to stay on until 2010.
(superbalita@sunstar.com.ph or anol.blogs.friendster.com/anols_blog)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (July 24, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
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