Young: Osmeña did not abandon Lahug

CEBU, Philippines - Contrary to the statement of Lahug barangay captain Mary Ann de los Santos, education consultant Augustus “Joy” Young said yesterday that Mayor Tomas Osmeña did not let down the school children of Lahug.

Young said De los Santos was “definitely wrong” in using the school children in her barangay to “politicize” against Osmeña. De los Santos ran for Mayor but lost to Osmeña in the 2007 elections.

The other day, De los Santos lashed at Osmeña and North District Rep. Raul del Mar for allegedly compromising the education of school children in Lahug when Osmeña stopped the construction of a school building at Lahug Elementary School after the 2007 elections.

The school building was eventually constructed through De los Santos’ “Piso Mo, Eskwelahan Mo” project and the P6.3 million donation from the provincial government. It was formally turned over to the school the other day.

But Young argued De los Santos was but looking at the controversial school building and failed to consider the other school buildings behind it, as well as the electricity and salary of the teachers.

“Wa sya kakita sa 20 classroom school buildings sa likod. What about the cost of electricity ug sweldo sa ubang teachers?” Young said, adding, that Osmeña was the happiest man in the eventual completion of the school building.

“The Mayor went to the bank laughing. The City was able to save. There was no intention to totally stop the construction then but he halted it until they raised the funds… and then the Governor pledged,” Young said.

He said the city never actually left Lahug behind, as City Hall never opposed all the needed requirements for the construction of the school building.

Likewise, Osmeña, through the local school board allocated a 20-room school building in Lahug, which is yet to be completed, as well as in other areas in the city where he lost in the 2007 elections.

“We completed buildings without so much noise. Wala mi inauguration. Hilom lang gyud,” Young said.

In 2007, Osmeña also extended assistance to Lahug through some infrastructure projects, which showed he has not abandoned the barangay.

De los Santos is eyeing to run for the congressional seat in the north district against Del Mar’s daughter Rachel who will run under the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan. — Ferliza C. Contratista/JMO   (THE FREEMAN)