Roxas hits Leyte town officials for politicking

ORMOC CITY, Philippines – Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas yesterday criticized party mates in Albuera town in Leyte for “too much politicking” by not giving their mayor the authority to sign a memorandum of agreement with the DILG to access the Reconstruction Assistance on Yolanda (RAY) fund.

Roxas did not initially name Albuera town during his sortie in Tacloban City yesterday, but eventually disclosed it in a gathering of mayors from western Leyte.

He said Albuera Mayor Ramon de la Cerna, who belongs to the Lakas party, is crippled by his vice mayor and eight councilors who belong to the Liberal Party.

Roxas did not hide his displeasure at the perceived politicking of his party mates, saying this is not the time for politics.

The RAY funds are the national government’s assistance to Yolanda-affected towns and cities to reconstruct their damaged city and municipal halls, public markets and civic centers.

Based the paper trail, De la Cerna, through his municipal administrator, asked for the authority on April 3 yet. Attached were a pro-forma letter of Roxas explaining the RAY program and a draft of the MOA prepared by the DILG. It was also certified “urgent” which meant the council had to act on it immediately.

The mayor reiterated his request on April 8, saying he needed to submit it yesterday.

But Vice Mayor Norman Mesina, in a letter, said they “were not aware of the priority projects” and that De la Cerna should have been “courteous” to inform them because the municipal council was not his “stamping pad.”

Albuera, according to the DILG, should have received P 7.75 million for the repair of its municipal hall (P800,000), public market (P1.45 million), and civic center (P5.5 million).

Sources said Tunga town is in the same situation, with its mayor belonging to LP and the councilors allied with the opposition. The councilors, however, are reportedly on official travel so they could not hold a special session for the measure.