Thursday, September 27, 2007 Espinoza: Lapu-Lapu officials’ travel abroad By Elias L. Espinoza Free Zone
WHEN the Asean Summit was scheduled to be held in Cebu in December last year, preparation was frenzied. Roads, especially the ceremonial routes for delegates, were repaired and decorative street lamps were installed.
The Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) was hurriedly constructed. When the summit was later moved to January, it became a blessing in disguise for Capitol officials as the CICC was not fully ready in December.
The repair and re-asphalting of roads for the summit have burdened taxpayers by several million of pesos. Yet, in less than a year, these roads are now in bad shape.
An example is Mandaue City’s C. D. Seno St., which is located beside the Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion and leads to the CICC. It is now full of craters because of heavy rains in the past few days.
I understand that government road projects have warranty of 12 months from completion. But will government direct the contractors to repair these roads again?
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The Commission on Audit (COA) should stop local officials from traveling in groups abroad in the guise of study tours because this goes against the principle that public funds should be used for public purpose.
I was taken aback by the revelation of Punta Engano Barangay Capt. Angel Rodriguez that Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Arturo Radaza, together with 28 barangay captains, went to Hong Kong on an educational tour.
It may have been an educational tour for barangay captains but certainly it was not for public purpose. I would even say it was more of a prize for the support the mayor got from barangay captains.
How much was spent? Nobody knows until COA conducts a post audit on the expenses and makes it public. But I think the spending won’t be less than P2 million.
Rodriguez lamented that instead of spending so much money for the junket, the money could have been put to better use had the mayor signed the memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Sta. Lucia for the relocation of informal settlers.
The City Government, based on the agreement, will only spend P2.5 million while Sta. Lucia will provide P3 million. However, Radaza refused to sign the MOA for no apparent reason, Rodriguez said.
Meanwhile, what kind of administration does Lapu-Lapu have? Reports say the Radaza administration is now targeting the establishments of Efrain Pelaez, who exposed its shenanigans.
Instead of answering squarely the allegations of corruption, the camp of Mayor Radaza is using the alleged violations committed by Pelaez’s businesses. This is nothing but a veiled attempt to divert the attention of the public from the corruption issues.
While the City Government has police power, this can only be exercised in the best interest of the public. Granting that Pelaez has tax obligations to the city, this is not a valid and legal basis to demolish the structures he owns.
Pelaez, who heads the Mactan Island Chamber of Commerce and Industry, exposed the alleged irregularities committed by city officials, the latest of which was the purchase of P23-million worth of personal computers from Kein Enterprises.
The purchase was supposedly for the Pentium 4 brand but delivered instead were the cheaper Celeron computers. Still, the City paid the contract price for Pentium 4.
I don’t think City Hall’s threat to put down Pelaez’s businesses will break his spirit. I even believe that, with the support of NGOs, he will come out even stronger because it would mean he already delivered the message to the mayor.
