Sunday, November 25, 2007 Soc still loyal to Eddiegul despite latter’s criticisms
TALISAY City Mayor Socrates Fer-nandez says he is still loyal and respects Rep. Eduardo R. Gullas (Cebu, 1st district) despite their apparent disagreement on the way he manages City Hall.
“Perhaps, we may differ on principles but never that I will change my relationship with anyone,” said Fernandez in an obvious reference to Gullas, his close political ally.
Recently, Gullas partly blamed Fernandez for allegedly not acting on the renewal of the double A accreditation of the City-run slaughterhouse with the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS).
Gullas said NMIS 7 Director Romeo Capa wrote Fernandez thrice, reminding him to work on the renewal of the abattoir’s AA accreditation, which expired in May last year.
Fernandez, who got a fresh mandate in the last May 14 polls with the backing of Gullas, reportedly merely ignored Capa’s letter.
“He did not lift a finger,” the congressman said.
City Administrator Richel Bacaltos had to work double time to process the NMIS requirements following a threat of Cebu City to confiscate all Talisay’s butchered meat.
With the help of Gullas, Bacaltos finally secured the double A accreditation certificate from the NMIS main office in Quezon City last Nov. 22, beating Cebu City’s ultimatum.
Slight delay
Talisay City has been supplying 60 to 70 percent of butchered meat to Cebu City and its neighboring localities.
The NMIS accreditation, which will expire in May next year, grants Talisay City to slaughter livestock at its abattoir and market its meat anywhere in the country.
Sought for comment, Fernandez, however, took exception to accusations that he was merely sitting on the NMIS’ reminder, saying the City’s accreditation would not have been renewed.
“Medyo nalangan lang sa panahon. But whatever his (Gullas’) appraisal (is), I will stick to my duty,” he added.
Early this month, Gullas criticized Fernandez for not heeding his call to slash the number of over 800 job-order employees at City Hall by half to save at least P2 million a month.
Sun.Star Cebu learned that the City Hall has to spend P3.6 million a month in salaries of these job orders.
The monthly savings, Gullas said, could be used to fund the college scholarship grants for the poor but deserving Talisaynon students and construct a new four-story Talisay City College building.
Apart from this, Gullas also lambasted the local PNP for its laxity in the fight to curb resurgence of video carrera machines and the proliferation of illegal drugs in Talisay. (GC)
