IF allegations of the “former political has-been” are to be believed, Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Dino is behind efforts to discredit his administration, including the blocking of projects of his allies. I think this will not bring good for Cebu and Dino is courting more enemies than friends.
The conflict between the two is personal and political. And chat can we get from this? Nothing. What Dino should remember is that he is the alter ego of the president for the Visayas areas and not only for Cebu. Incidentally, no other presidential assistant has been appointed, either for Luzon or for Mindanao.
Picking up a fight against a local politician is not good. This will make Dino lose his focus and is a total waste of his time. He should leave to the political opposition the fight against that “monster” at Cebu City Hall. He should visit those depressed areas in other regions that needs his attention.
What can the Cebuanos get if Dino and his allies, including resigned justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, name the “former political has-been” as a drug protector? It is a publicity stunt. If they have evidence, then by all means investigate him and file the necessary charges in court.
As for the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) project of the “former political has-been,” why should Dino block it? Let it be implemented. If he wants to pursue his Light Railway Transit (LRT) proposal because it is better than BRT, then implement that also. He should not sabotage the other project because he has his own.
Also, I suspect Dino has a hand in the controversy involving officials of the Regional Development Council (RDC 7) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH 7). It is only now that the RDC is hounded with controversies. There were controversies before but these were because of the personal agenda of some of its officers.
But under the present RDC, officials whom I call “elitists” are blocking projects, especially those implemented in Cebu City. Caught in the “crossfire” is Cebu City north district Rep. Raul Del Mar. All of del Mar’s projects were set aside as some RDC top officials didn’t consider these as priority. Not a priority nga pagsulbad man gihapon na sa traffic.
For me, all projects aimed at solving the traffic problem should be priority. Why was del Mar able to build his network of flyovers with concurrence of the past set of RDC officers? Flyovers are not the ultimate solution to the traffic problem but these helped ease traffic in some intersections.
Present RDC officials, like RDC co-chairman Kenneth Cobonpue and RDC-Infrastructure Development Committee (IDC) chair Glenn Soco are Dino’s recommendees. So it is easy for Dino to control and influence them.
The owner of the clinic along United Nations Ave., which will be affected by the proposed construction of a “depressed structure” there is owned by Dino’s classmate, who is strongly lobbying against the project.
I think RDC officials have succumbed to his pressure. Isn’t the agenda personal? They are also placing on the “chopping block”
DPWH 7 director Ador Canlas for initiating the project without consultation and traffic management plan. They want to ease out Canlas so they can put their own people as replacement. Mga hipokrito.