Friday, July 25, 2008 Paz denies guv dropped Lapu from Suroy route
THE wife of Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Arturo Radaza yesterday denied reports that Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia dropped them from the itinerary of the tourism program Suroy-Suroy sa Sugbo: Urban Adventure for Aug. 16 and 17.
Paz Radaza, also Barangay Mactan chief in Lapu-Lapu City, said that what happened during the tourism caravan meeting last July 17 was a mere “misunderstanding.”
“We will be joining the Suroy-Suroy sa Sugbo because we are part of Cebu,” Paz told reporters after her meeting with Governor Garcia.
Tourism
Garcia reportedly dropped Lapu-Lapu City and its tourism spots from the itinerary of the tourism caravan after the city officials reportedly ignored the meeting called for by the governor.
They were supposed to discuss plans and preparations for the tourism event.
In a rare occasion, Paz visited the governor in her office late afternoon yesterday. She was briefed by the Capitol about the previous tourism caravan in a video presentation.
Paz, whose husband is presently at odds with the governor over several political issues, said she had a healthy discussion with Garcia.
She said the event coordinator of the governor will get in touch with her to finalize the details of the event.
For her part, Elizabeth Francia, the governor’s chief of staff, said Garcia was very happy that Paz visited her.
Francia, who was also with Paz and Garcia during their meeting, said the governor will call for a meeting next week to finalize the details of the tourism caravan.
Representative
Capitol already explained that the absence of a representative from Lapu-Lapu has prompted Governor Garcia to institute changes in the planned urban adventure, which will go “resort-hopping” only in the city instead of the usual sites.
Political observers believed that the Capitol-Lapu-Lapu City rift started after city officials insisted to continue the proposed multi-billion Mactan North Reclamation and Development Project.
Garcia, her father Rep. Pablo Garcia (Cebu, 2nd district) and younger brother, Rep. Pablo John Garcia (Cebu, 3rd district) wanted the implementation of the reclamation project deferred because they claimed it lacked endorsements from concerned state agencies. (GMD)
