Politicos told: No ‘Epal’ posters on Pamana projects

CATARMAN, Northern Samar -- Undersecretary Luisito Montalbo of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (Oppap) said that no politician will use the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (Pamana) projects in their campaigns for the 2013 elections.

Montalbo, in a press conference at Northern Samar Governor Paul Daza’s office, cautioned local officials not to put up their posters on Pamana project sites as they will surely remove the said materials.

Montalbo admitted that their personnel discovered billboards of some mayors and governors being placed in the project sites, claiming they own the project.

“Talagang ipinapakiusap ho namin na gawin na lang nila yan sa ibang projects, ‘wag lang sa Pamana. In fairness to the governors that we’re working with, iginagalang naman nila ang policy namin,” he said.

The Oppap sets up community billboards and project markers in Pamana areas to make clear to the public that the projects come from the National Government.

As to the allegations that only President Benigno Aquino III’s party mates can benefit from the program, Montalbo clarified that any governor may ask for fund from the Oppap as long as they can support their request.

Montalbo said they will support any governor from any party as long as they adhere to the Aquino administration’s moral governance “daang matuwid,” adding Oppap is politically blind.

Montalbo on Wednesday turned over to the Provincial Government the completed Nenita-Mirador Road in Mondragon. The 1.73-kilometer road repair project worth P30 million is part of the P700-million project of Oppap under the Pamana to complete the seven-kilometer road from Barangay Nenita Mondragon to the remote town of Silvino Lobos.

Governor Daza was proud to note that the province is one of President Benigno Aquino III’s priorities for development projects. (Leyte Samar Daily Express)