Saturday, March 15, 2008 Mayors group backs Minaleños' move v. Capitol By Marna H. Dagumboy
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Pampanga Mayors League (PML) on Friday expressed its "unequivocal" support to the recent actions staged by Minalin municipal officials who aired strong objection to the alleged "arbitrary intervention" of the Provincial Government in the town's road projects.
This after the Governor Eddie Panlilio reportedly ordered for the stoppage of road projects in Barangays Sta. Rita and San Nicolas in Minalin.
Sand and other quarry materials derived from desilting operations in the town's waterways are being used in rehabilitating the roads in said villages.
"Desilting waterways in Minalin town is not a commercial activity but is used to undertake the extraction of filling materials to rehabilitate the said roads," the PML said.
The PML resolution, signed by all of its members, stated that after the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991, Minalin was devastated because of massive mudflows. Now, it added, great efforts were undertaken to embark on a massive rehabilitation of roads, and other infrastructure projects by way of desilting the waterways.
The Capitol mistook desilting activities for domestic consumption as commercial quarrying thereby requiring the payment of the necessary taxes and permits, which the league believed is unnecessary, the resolution also stated.
Flores earlier disclosed that the local government unit (LGU) did not ask the Capitol for financial assistance or any other support like the use of heavy equipment to implement the projects.
He claimed the local government was allowed to haul quarry materials for the project.
Panlilio previously ordered the stoppage of the rehabilitation, upgrading and widening of roads in Barangays Sta. Rita and San Nicolas.
This caused outrage and resentment among the local populace because the project is meant to beautify the area and promote a livable environment, said Flores.
Panlilio, however, said the municipality of Minalin had been illegally excavating filling materials for their infrastructure projects.
He said he had no intention to impede the progress of the province, specifically that of Minalin's.
The governor also reiterated the need to legalize everything. He urged Flores to renew his gratuitous permit in order to resume the quarrying activities in his town.
