CEBU, Philippines – The Provincial Development Council, in its Thursday meeting, approved the enhanced Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan (PDPFP) and the Provincial Development and Investment Program (PDIP) for a five-year period (2014-2019) after facing a series of objections and clarificatory questions from the members who belonged to the opposite political camp.
Of the almost 30 PDC members present, 24 voted to approve the proposed plan, while four to six have registered their vehement objections on the very highly technical 5-year plan.
The objections were mainly raised by Negros Oriental 2nd district Representative George Arnaiz and Provincial Board Member Arnie Teves, who is now an aspirant for a congressional seat in the 3rd district. They pointed out they only wanted a very good plan to be implemented by whoever wins in the 2016 elections.
Arnaiz wanted to change and correct the remarks “projects not needing local funds” to “projects funded by national funds,” for clearer understanding, but this was not entertained because the plans were already approved.
Governor Roel Degamo and Provincial Planning and Development officer-in-charge Sofia Arevala explained that the matrix and the template used in the formulation of the plan were supplied by the National Economic and Development Authority, and the projects that no longer require local funds should no longer be labeled as such.
Teves later asked why the provincial government earlier insisted on requesting for a loan package of P350 million for the central block building, even if lately the Department of Health already allotted P150 million for the construction of such edifice.
Degamo explained the total cost of the project would not be only P350 million, as it can go as high as P400 million, thus the Capitol requested that the remaining P100 million from the DOH be used instead in purchasing hospital equipment, including an oxygen plant.
Discussions and deliberations of the Annual Investment Plan was re-scheduled to December 3, after Teves argued that there was no quorum at the PDC.
As this developed, it was uncertain whether the approved PDC plan will be able to convince the PB to finally approve it, considering that majority of the members belong to the opposition. (FREEMAN)