Magpale denies Benhur’s claims

CEBU, Philippines - Acting Governor Agnes Magpale denied allegations of 4th district Representative Benhur Salimbangon that she has not attended to the concern of Sta. Fe residents who have lost electricity after their generator bogged down.

Magpale said that upon assuming her post as acting governor, she ordered the engineering office to look into the concern so electricity in Hilantagaan Island can be restored.

She said that the OIC of the Engineering office, Engr. Hector Jamora, immediately had the generator checked.

Salimbangon earlier said that he was saddened upon knowing that more than 1,000 homes in Hilantagaan Island in Sta. Fe have not had electricity for three months already. He said that the current administration of the Provincial Capitol has not attended to the electricity concern, which was a project of suspended Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and Salimbangon.

Salimbangon said that the Provincial Engineering office has already reported the concern to Magpale but the latter has not acted on it.

In an interview with The FREEMAN, Jamora also denied that Magpale snubbed the report of the Engineering Office, saying that the acting governor has been following up with them on the update of the spare parts for the generator.

Jamora explained that upon their assessment of the worn-out generator early this year, they informed Magpale already that they would need to order new spare parts.

However, the spare parts are not available locally, said Jamora. He said that Magpale asked them to check where they can order the parts but he said that after canvassing, it would take time if they would order the spare parts in other countries.

Instead, Jamora said that they have decided to fabricate the parts so they can fix the generator immediately.

They have already provided a sample to the machine shop that will put together the parts and once done, they will fix the generator immediately.

Further, Magpale also denied that she has ordered to stop the roll-on/roll-off port project in Maya, Daanbantayan.

Salimbangon also raised his concern on the halting of the project which he said has a contract already.  The project was also under Garcia’s administration.

But Magpale said that she has not given such orders to halt the project: “Wala man na namo gi-stop.”

She explained that they have just not released vouchers for the contractor of the projects since these would need to be ratified.

Magpale said that since they have found out that the Provincial Government still needed to settle a lot of bills with only limited money left in its coffers, she said that she has been very strict with the release of money so they can prioritize which needs to be paid first.

She said that there are a lot of vouchers that has not been released, but once ratified with the supporting documents, they would release it immediately. — (FREEMAN)