CEBU, Philippines - A top official of the Local Water Utilities Administration yesterday assured the residents of Tuburan town that LWUA will be closely monitoring the implementation of a water system improvement project there, contrary to reports that local officials will be tasked to implement such and in the process use the project in election campaigns.
Speaking before the more than 2,000 affected residents in Tuburan in yesterday’s public hearing, Engr. Maria Eda Emma Censon who is the management advisor of the LWUA said that the release of funds will be facilitated by their office and not directly to the local officials of the said municipality.
Residents in Tuburan, reportedly mostly identified with the opposition camp, questioned the “timing” of the project, with the 2010 polls barely three months from now.
Opposition Councilors Marie Tabotabo and Sesinando Potencioso, Jr. questioned the move of the administration of Mayor Constancio Suezo III in availing a loan from the LWUA.
Both Tabotabo and Potencioso claimed that Resolution No. 2009-38-A failed to comply with the necessary requirements when it was used by the municipal government in availing of the loan from LWUA.
They clarified that though they are for the development of the town especially in the implementation of the projects related to water system development, they would want to “observe proper procedures.”
Suezo hit back at the two councilors by questioning their motive when they allegedly misinformed the residents of Tuburan about the water project.
First, Suezo said that the plan to avail of a loan from LWUA started in previous years during the administration of his wife, former mayor and now Vice Mayor Rosemarie Suezo.
Mayor Suezo said that the municipal council also granted an authority to his wife for a loan with LWUA, but they set aside the plan because they received financial assistance from the provincial government and from the office of Cebu third district Rep. Pablo John Garcia.
“Kaayohan sa lungsod sa Tuburan maoy atong gitinguha nga mapatuman kining proyekto sa patubig, apan gigamit kini sa atong mga kaatbang sa politika,” Suezo said.
He also denied the accusation that he will be using the project in his campaign sorties, saying that if the people disapprove of the project, he is willing to have it shelved.
The mayor also said that of the more than 12,000 households, only 2,000 availed of the present water services of the town.
Some residents in Tuburan told The FREEMAN that it’s time now to develop the water system in their area with the help of LWUA citing of the alleged poor services currently offered.
They admitted that some sectors initiated the misinformation campaign to discredit the project.
As for Censon, she told The FREEMAN that the output of the public hearing can guide them in implementing the project.
She said that LWUA comes in because they want to help the people of Tuburan and not to stir any political rift. — Jose P. Sollano/MEEV (FREEMAN NEWS)