Ex-MCIA manager gets 15 years for graft

CEBU, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has convicted former Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority general manager Adelberto Yap of graft over an overpriced fire truck for the airport in 2006.

In a 40-page decision dated February 14, 2020, the anti-graft court found Yap guilty of two counts of graft, with a six to 15-year jail sentence for each count, after he allowed payment of P6 million to Asiaborders Philippines Inc. even if the procured Aircraft Rescue Firefighting Truck from the supplier was not delivered.

Capitol to use solar panels

The Cebu provincial government is planning to have solar panels installed on its buildings, including the provincial-run terminal, as part of their effort to save on electricity bills.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said there is a Japanese firm that forwarded its proposal of putting up solar power in the Capitol.

“Katong Japanese firm nga ni-present, according to him ang iyang solar panel are such that even on cloudy days, the panels can continue to absorb solar energy” Garcia said.

The Capitol officials also met another firm that proposed a solar lamp.

Garcia said as much as possible they would want hundred percent solar power usage at the Capitol.

“Kung mahimo one hundred percent but there are also limitations to solar energy which a part is determined by the sun, ikaduha ang mismo architecture niini, ang design sa atong building, so we are hoping that we can achieve 60-40 mix kung mahimo,” Garcia said.

The Capitol has also invited other firms to forward their proposals, as the Capitol believed to be a huge factor in saving electricity cost.

Garcia said she wants to have a solar panel with good quality  that comes with a good price.

“I was made aware of this because kining Japanese nga firm gitan-aw man gud, gitan-aw sad ang South bus. Do you know pila na ka panel didto pero wala na mag trabaho..it’s not working” Garcia said.

The said solar panels were installed at the CSBT sometime in 2017 by the previous administration, in an effort to also save the use of energy at the terminal.

".. we need to be able to find the best proposal in terms of quality and in terms of price but in the end it must be quality," Garcia said.  GAN (FREEMAN)