Medellin mayor irked on another relief effort “tainted with politics”

CEBU, Philippines - Medellin town Mayor Ricardo Ramirez once again lost his temper after learning that a rebuilding project will be implemented in Bogo City and in the municipality of Daanbantayan, skipping his town which is located in between.

Ramirez was reacting to a report that Bogo City Mayor Celestino Martinez Jr. and Daanbantayan Mayor Augusto Corro, together with the provincial government, Department of Education, Gawad Kalinga and 3V1G, have entered into a memorandum of agreement with CEMEX Philippines for the “Build Unity” Project, a rebuilding program for areas in northern Cebu devastated by super typhoon Yolanda.

“Take note that Medellin is in between Bogo and Daanbantayan and also take note that both mayors are Liberal Party members while yours truly, unfortunately is not,” Ramirez said.

Ramirez criticized the relief efforts of the provincial government, saying that only LP allies have benefited from the aid of the Capitol.

“Again they will portray me as a quarrelsome mayor and use it as a reason why we are not getting anything. If by speaking the truth you are branded as quarrelsome then so be it anyway my conscience is clear. God knows that it goes against my principles to just look the other way whenever an injustice is being done,” Ramirez said.

San Remigio Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator, Engr. Romarico Cabellon, explained that the priority areas of GK are those local government units with existing GK sites like Bogo City. San Remigio also has a GK site since 2009.

“Through GK, we got partners too to sponsor our housing development here, but not through the blessings of Governor,” Cabellon said.

The Province of Cebu, in a statement, said that CEMEX Philippines has partnered with DepEd-Cebu Division to rehabilitate Kawit National High School in Medellin.

At least P25 million was donated by CEMEX, one of the lead cement producers, to help rebuild houses in northern Cebu.

The firm partnered with the provincial government and the LGUs in northern Cebu and various non-government organizations to help the victims under the company’s “Build Unity” project.

CEMEX Philippines has also partnered with 3 Villages, 1 Goal  (3V1G) to build a community health center in Malapascua Island in Daanbantayan as well as provide a “bancambulansya” (boat ambulance) to the residents and train them in first-aid and disaster response.

The project also aims to build a community livelihood center in Carnaza Island where masonry skills training will be conducted with the help of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

It also installs underwater cement sculptures and driftwood sculptures in various coastal towns that would serve as marine habitat to boost ecotourism.  (FREEMAN)