CEBU, Philippines - Tuburan, Cebu Mayor Aljun Diamante, a known ally of Vice Gov. Gregorio Sanchez Jr. and member of the Liberal Party, met with Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia for the first time yesterday.
Diamante, a neophyte mayor, yesterday said that he is going to support the programs of Gov. Garcia.
However, he stressed that there was nothing political about his action. As mayor, he said, it is only right that he shows respect to the governor.
He also said that he and the governor only talked about progress in the towns, and that he did not ask anything from the governor.
“Isip mayor sa usa ka lungsod, lungsod sa Tuburan ug siya pud isip gobernador, dapat lang na muduol ko sa iyaha. Ako pag-ari dili parti sa politika. Akong pag-ari parti sa kalambuan sa lungsod.” Diamante added. (As mayor it is only appropriate for me to approach her, the governor. I came here not for politics but for the progress of Tuburan.)
The governor expressed surprise over Diamante’s visit.
She said that Diamante’s support is important since the Province has continuing programs which will benefit local residents if the town mayors would support these.
She enumerated the program for materials recovery facilities in the barangays and the Province’s focus on major barangay roads for this term, among others. (The Capitol had announced that they were already done with the provincial roads, so they will shift attention to the barangay roads.)
In a related development, three barangay captains from Tuburan also explained yesterday that they already liquidated the assistance given to them by Vice Gov. Gregorio Sanchez for a road project.
They said they already submitted the liquidation papers to their accounting office. They wanted to get copies of these papers when their questioned road project was reported, but the accounting office could no longer provide them with any.
They will again make a follow-up on their request once the new set of local officials has settled.
Tomugpa Barangay Captain Jimmylito Concha, Kalangan Barangay Captain Malaquibac Bardoquillo and Camansi Barangay Captain Leonardo Baldespeñosa also explained that the road was initially planned to be six kilometers but was cut after they met problems with its implementation.
They assured that there is still money left in their coffers. — THE FREEMAN