More on 5th district
white elephant

I mentioned in my last column the major challenge for Rep. Bebot Mirasol, now the congressman of the Fifth District of Negros Occidental.

In short, this dared Mirasol to get to the bottom of a Philippine Ports Authority two-phase project to set up a Roro port in Aguisan of Himamaylan City.

In short, after having sunk something like P108.8 million on the Roro port, it has not been utilized and virtually converted into a sprawling solar drying facility for agricultural produce and as a fish port/landing area for motorized bancas.

Worse, the port’s shallow water is only two to three meters deep. As a matter of fact, a barge of the Binalbagan Isabela Sugar Company ran aground when it tried to use it.

Now, of course, Mirasol had nothing to do with it. What I am pointing out is for him to take the necessary steps to assure that the funds used to fund the ambitious project for the export port for the sugar of BISCOM and the United Robina Corporation does go to waste.

The Regional Development Council is already initiating moves to remedy the deficiencies to rehabilitate it if still possible so that it can function the way it had been intended be.

I understand that the Himamaylan City authorities are also involved in the study to go about the development of the Aguisan area.

And, of course, how to salvage the white elephant.

Mayor Agustin Bascon of Himamaylan may have supported board member Emilio Yulo against Mirasol. But I am sure that he is not averse to discussing with him and the PPA-P—Negros Occidental, how to remedy the situation.

The PPA must be able to address the deficiencies in the port itself. In short, make it accessible to barges and other shipping vessels.

But it remains virtually limited because the old bridge cannot handle trucks weighing more than 15 tons. And the existing a detour needs upgrading. This is reportedly the responsibility of the city government.

In short, the port can serve as an alternate port link connecting Iloilo, Negros, and Mindanao.

Vessels can use the Guimaras port and hit Himamaylan, then trucks or vehicles can use the national highway traversing to Kabankalan, Mabinay, Bais, Tanjay, Amlan, San Jose, Sibulan and Dumaguete City. From there travelers and cargo can ship out of Dumaguete and touch the Port of Dapitan in Zamboanga del Norte.

That can also prove a boon to Antique residents who need not pass through the highly urbanized cities of Iloilo and Bacolod. In short, if Mirasol can revive the project, he shall have etched a major impact on the people of the Fifth District.

I know he can do it. And I am sure that Cong. Mirasol is going to devote some of his efforts to reviving a project which former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo funded with money from the PPA kitty.

***

I just received a letter for City Mayor Evelio Leonardia from Punong Barangay chairman Anthony Jose Ayco of Brgy. 15.

Ayco respectfully reminded Leonardia of how both Cebu City and Iloilo City are celebrating their charter anniversaries on the day their local government were inaugurated with the induction into office of their respective officials.

In the case of Cebu City, Commonwealth Act No. 58, authored by the late Senator Vicente Rama, was signed into law on October 20, 1934.

But it was only three years after on February 24, 1937 when Secretary of Interior Government Elpidio Quirino, representing the late President Manual L. Quezon, administered the oath of office to Alfred Jacinto as the City Mayor of Cebu. After 75 years, Cebu City is celebrating its charter anniversary on February 23.

These two CA’s like that of Bacolod contain almost the same transitory provision, which provides that “that the city government shall be organized immediately after the appointment and qualification of the city mayor…”

That’s why Rep. Anthony Golez (Bacolod City) was very confident that the appeal for consideration by Bacolod officials for Malacañang’s legal office to reconsider its decision to declare June 18 as an official non-working holiday” is not going to win, because of the law states that no local ordinance, decree on even a presidential decree can repeal a law. Or change it.*

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