AN ANGELES City councilor said the city government should appropriate a big chunck of the city's P1.2-billion loan proceeds to the Rafael Lazatin Memorial Medical Center or Ospital Ning Angeles (ONA), City College of Angeles (CCA), and the Angeles City High School.
In his privilege speech during a recent session, Councilor Jesus "Jay" Sangil urged his colleagues in the Sangguniang Panlungsod to amend the appropriations under the P1.2 billion loan intended for the construction of a new city hall and sports complex.
Sangil claimed that the ordinary citizens of Angeles do not need a multi-million-peso city hall and a world-class sports complex.
The local government unit should use the funds for the expansion of ONA, procurement of more medicines, medical equipment, and the hiring of more doctors and nurses to serve the indigent patients, according to the official.
"Halos lahat po tayo dito sa Sangguniang Panlungsod ay reelectionists, an iba ay aspirante for higher positions. Namimisita sa mga barangays, kumakatok, kumakamay, asking again support from our constituents na ang karamihan sa kanila ay mga ordinaryong mamamayan na may mga kapamilya na ang iba ay may sakit at hindi kayang ipagamot sa private hospital," Sangil said.
He also cited the need to provide funds for the CCA and other public secondary and primary shools in the city.
"Ang ordinaryong mamamayan na hinihingan natin ng suporta ay mga anak o kapamilya na nais makatungtong sa kolehiyo pero walang kakayanan sa pribado at dahil limitado at may kakulangan din ng pasilidad sa CCA, sila ay nananatiling out of school youths na napipilitang magtrabaho ng wala sa oras o kaya ang iba ay naliligaw ng landas," Sangil said.