Is trouble brewing between the executive and the legislative branches in Valencia town, Negros Oriental?

Mayor Edgar Teves has confirmed that had directed Vice Mayor Marciano Maravillas to vacate his office so it can be used as Office of the Municipal Treasurer.

The order was allegedly issued because of the mayor's observation that it was not being used by the vice mayor whose office is supposed to be at the Sangguniang Bayan and not in the municipal hall.

On receiving the order, Maravillas immediately pulled out from the municipal hall and is reportedly holding office at his residence.

Unnamed political observers say the strain in the relationship of the mayor and the vice mayor, who ran in tandem in the last elections, was due to “non-accommodation” of requests by the other, and vice versa.

Teves had requested the SB for appropriations to purchase a 3.5-hectare lot in Barangay Mampas, Valencia, at P250 per square meter where a vocational school will be constructed for students who can't afford a 4-year course.

This was turned down by the SB, headed by Maravillas, because it is far for students from Malaunay, and neighboring barangays, and will entail additional expenses.

In a position paper, Maravillas said he is not against the construction of the vocational school per se, as he also wanted it established before his term ends but not in Mampas where students will have a hard time going to the school, aside from the additional huge transportation expenses.

Maravillas also said the SB cannot just act on the letter request of the mayor without pertinent documents, like DAR conversion clearance for the use of the property, certificate of non-coverage, duly notarized offer to sell by the landowner, certificate of site acceptance by a community representative, appraisal reports, and tax clearance, among others.

To this, Teves said, “I respect his opinion, if the vice mayor disagrees with my proposal.”

Teves refuted claims of Maravillas that his daughter was not included in the list of the mayor's recommendees for hiring as nurse.

Meanwhile, Teves lamented what he called too much restrictions of the Commission on Audit in the disbursement of funds that have hampered his plans and programs for the town.

He said that of the municipality's P53 million surplus last year, P4 million would have been allotted to provide school children in Valencia with free uniforms, school supplies and other needs, but the COA would not allow it.

He said his requests for funds for a computers each for all school levels in Valencia and a school bus were also not allowed.*JG

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