ANGELES CITY -- "I never regret good things I do. On the contrary, Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan might regret his action."
Thus said Vice-Mayor Vicky Vega-Cabigting on Monday after Pamintuan issued statements that she would feel sorry and regret her opposition to the planned establishment of a P110-million memorial park in Barangay Sapa Libutad designed to help poor residents.
Vega-Cabigting also assailed Pamintuan for his plan to construct a P16-million fountain at the Heritage Park in Barangay Sto. Rosario.
"I propose that we push through with a fountain and cemetery at minimal costs and put more priority to education, environment and livelihood," said Vega-Cabigting in a statement.
"Let me reiterate that I am not against the public cemetery project of the city government. What I am up against is the exorbitant amount they will use for it. P110 million is too much! They are buying a new land when there is already an existing donated land in Sapa Libutad which was given to the city for the purpose of making it into a public memorial park," said Cabigting.
Cabigting and Councilor Carmelo "Pogi" Lazatin recently made an ocular inspection of the area where the donated lot is.
"According to the mayor's representatives during the Sanggunian regular and special session, the donated land is now eroding since it was near the river. The reason why it is slowly eroding is because of the quarry operations in the area. To top it all, it is now a dumpsite where garbage is even being thrown on the slope of the land near the river," said Cabigting.
"Kaya lalaki ang gastos ng gobyerno, dahil din sa kapabayaan ng gobyerno!"
Cabigting said the city does not need a “Rolls Royce” of a memorial park. She added that what the city and its people need is a “decent” place for indigent constituents without spending an “indecent” amount of money.
Cabigting said she had asked engineers and architects about the memorial park pushed by Pamintuan and members of the majority bloc of the city council.
“I was told by experts that P25 million for the project is enough. They even told me that the design presented is not even 'world class',” she added.
Asked about the proposed P16 million fountain, Cabigting said: “We also had an ocular inspection in the proposed area where it was supposed to be built. The side of the Museo ning Angeles is just very small for a dancing fountain. There are also concerns among heritage groups if the fountain should be placed in the Museo since it is made of wood.”
“Constant contact with the water might exacerbate the damage it can cause to the wooden parts of the building. I believe there was not even a consultation with all stakeholders,” she added. (Joey Pavia/Contributor)