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Wednesday, February 19, 2003
Lito O drops out of megadome debate
By Jeanette P. Malinao
CEBU -- Noting Gov. Pablo Garcia’s control over the Cebu Provincial Board (PB), former governor Lito Osmeña announced Tuesday he will no longer engage in a debate over the P250-million megadome, which he has been advocating against.
“But mark my word, that would serve as the greatest monument of failure of (the Garcia) administration. He’ll be remembered by that structure, a symbol of stupidity,” Osmeña said over radio dyLA.
While Lito predicts that the fate of the megadome will be like that of former governor Vicente de la Serna’s unfinished and idle Sugbo Cultural Center considering next year’s elections, Capitol officials were busy Tuesday afternoon doing the paperwork for the project.
Capitol officials met with Cebu’s organizations of architects to draft the guidelines of the megadome design contest.
The goal is to start building the edifice this year, said Vice Gov. John Gregory “John-john” Osmeña, who heads the megadome committee.
John-john pointed out that all future transactions of the megadome, like the ratification of a memorandum of agreement or resolutions authorizing the governor to enter into transactions, need only the simple majority that they already got.
As for the supplemental budget, proponents need to convince one more member as it will need nine votes or majority of all 16 members, and not a two-thirds vote or 10 members as earlier reported.
Also Tuesday, Vice Mayors’ League President Ricardo Ramirez, an ally of former congressman Celestino “Junie” Martinez Jr., contradicted John-john’s belief that all opposition to the megadome is “not a matter of conscience nor principle but purely political.”
“This is pure and simple public interest. Why don’t we feel awkward siding with Lito on this issue?” said Ramirez. He pointed out that they share Lito’s view despite the possibility that Martinez and Lito could clash during next year’s gubernatorial race.
“I salute the five brave souls who withstood the pressure brought to bear on them and the offers of financial rewards by voting with their conscience,” added Ramirez.
During its session last Monday, the Provincial Board voted 8-5 to approve a resolution supporting the megadome project.
Board Member Victor Maambong also yesterday announced he has decided to fully support the project. When expressing support to the undertaking during the PB’s deliberation last Monday, he had said he could still change his mind.
Maambong, however, will introduce “innovations” to the details of the project to accommodate the opposition, like seeing to it that a percentage of the megadome’s income go to health services.
On the other hand, PB Member Jose Ma. Gastardo, who abstained during the voting last Monday, said a detailed feasibility study and position papers from Cebu’s local government units should have been presented before the PB acted on it for a “more intelligent” deliberation.
Lito has raised the issue on spending money to improve Mandaue City when component cities “don’t give a single cent” to the Province’s coffers, although they vote in provincial elections.
The vice governor’s father, Sen. John “Sonny” Osmeña, also thinks it better to spend the money on district hospitals. Sen. Sergio “Serge” Osmeña III, meanwhile, said a private company could best handle the undertaking.
To dismiss what he called “outsiders” telling Capitol officials how to run the Province, John-john last Monday pushed for the passage of the PB resolution supporting the proposal.
When asked if it would now be easy for them to implement the project with only one more vote needed at the PB to release the funds, John-john replied, “Easy? You’re kidding. They’ll kick, scream, fight, scratch and do anything to oppose this.” Sun.Star Cebu
(February 19, 2003 issue)
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