Gwen told to put power concerns over Balili

CEBU, Philippines - Instead of concentrating on the Balili lot, Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez Jr. suggested Governor Gwendolyn Garcia should be concentrating on the power problem of the province.

Sanchez also lashed at the governor’s making the controversial Balili property a banana plantation of the province saying that Garcia is just trying to justify the “anomalous” purchase of the property.

Sanchez, who had been pushing to rescind the transaction, said that making the almost 25-hectare property in Barangay Tinaan, Naga a “Sagingan sa Probinsiya” only shows the governor’s lack of vision and planning for the property contrary to what she claims.

Garcia earlier claimed that the province had already made a development plan for the property that includes an international port.

“Iyang himoon nga Sagingan sa Probinsiya ang Balili nga daplin man na sa dagat dili man intawon mabuhi ang saging diha,” Sanchez said.

According to Sanchez, Garcia should have given priority the current power shortage problem in Cebu instead of planting bananas. Garcia and her runningmate Glenn Soco celebrated Valentines Day last Sunday by planting banana trees and inaugurating projects.

“Nganong kana man nga duna may power shortage?” Sanchez questioned.

He said Garcia should have given priority to the proposed construction of the wind power facilities in Carmen, Alcoy and Boljoon to solve the power crisis in the province. Sanchez said the proposed construction of wind power facilities in these towns is expected to generate an additional 3,000 megawatts for the province.

Sanchez said that the study of the project was already done and it is allegedly awaiting publication to invite interested investors to bid for it. Sanchez said the proposed wind power energy for the province is one of the components of his pet project, the Trans-Axial Highway, which was shelved by Garcia.

“Naa na ang terms of reference naa na ang plano nganong dili man i-bid out?” Sanchez said. – Fred P. Languido/BRP   (FREEMAN NEWS)