CH welcomes House probe into Carbon project

CEBU, Philippines —  Acting Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama welcomes the House committee on local government’s probe on the controversial joint venture agreement entered into by the city government and the Megawide Construction Corporation for the modernization of Carbon Public Market.

“When you talk about welcome, any activity that will bring the truth should always be welcome because anything that will be good for the city will definitely be welcome,” said Rama.

In a two-page resolution, six members of the Makabayan bloc sought an investigation into the P5.5 billion commercial project.

Reps. Carlos Isagani Zarate, Ferdinand Gaite and Eufemia Cullamat of Bayan Muna Partylist, France Castro of ACT Teachers Partylist, Arlene Brosas of Gabriela Women’s Party, and Sara Jane Elago of Kabataan Partylist described the Carbon modernization project as “emblematic” of government projects that clearly disregard the welfare of the people in the name of modernization, privatization, and commercialization.

According to them, the agreement was signed without consultations among all stakeholders, especially the market vendors who strongly opposed the said project.

Some city councilors also admitted in one of their sessions that they have signed the agreement without reading its contents in full.

Rama, however, said with or without a congressional probe, he already made moves on this direction. He said they will be “continuously doing it at our level.”

The acting mayor said meetings have already been conducted from the legislative department, his staff, and likewise some discussions were already conducted with some personalities from Megawide.

“The thrust is curative. I have been very clear, the word curative. We have to do some curing… I can assure you, be og naa man ko sa konseho ug karon acting (mayor) ko, I will finish this matter and this matter will be presented to the council whether I will be back as presiding officer, as full-pledged vice mayor or I will continue to become the acting mayor,” said Rama.

Rama, however, did not disclose yet what these “curative measures” are.

“I cannot be bringing, especially the finality will not be reached. We might be just bringing innuendos. We will only be doing some conjectures,” said Rama.

“Once this will already be definitely concretized, and this will be concretized, then I will be calling another presscon of this matter in due time,” he added. — FPL  (FREEMAN)