Brgy capt laments Magpale’s order stopping road

CEBU, Philippines - A barangay captain from southern town of the Province of Cebu has expressed his disappointment with acting Governor Agnes Magpale for allegedly halting the road concreting project in his barangay.

Barangay Captain Demetrio Carreon of Bagakay, Barili said the unfinished project would have given his constituents better road access to three other barangays in the town.

“Ako nahiubos gyud kay pangandoy unta sa mga katawhan nga ang Bagakay ug Kangdampas mao unta’y isunod nga karsada. Kay gikan sa Kangdampas paingon sa Barangay Mantalongon market sayon na lang unta ang pag-agi,” said Carreon. (I feel bad about this because this has been the dream of our people, to have easier access to the market in Mantalongon.)

The same road also links Bagakay to Barangay Mantayupan.

Third district Rep. Pablo John “PJ” Garcia, One Cebu’s gubernatorial candidate in the coming elections, visited the barangay recently together with his sister, suspended Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia who seeks to replace her brother in the House of Representative.

The Garcias claimed the place as their bailiwick with Vice Mayor Marlon Garcia running for mayor in May 13 elections. Gov. Garcia is also a registered voter in Barili which qualifies her to run for Congress in the third district. 

The P17 million road concreting project, which was granted by Gov. Garcia, would have spanned some 10 kilometers.

She already inaugurated the two kilometers that have been concreted which connects Barangay Bagakay to its neighboring barangays of Dakit and Mayana.

Aside from his disappointment over the botched project, Carreon was also displeased when Magpale recalled the two multicabs from barangays Guibuangan and Mantalongon and the tourist bus that the municipality won in the expanded Green and Wholesome Environment that Nurtures (e-GWEN) program. He said this is an excessive display of abuse of power.

Carreon said if Magpale will also get back the multicab that Gov. Garcia issued to their barangay, “sangko na gyud sa langit ang akong kahiubos niya.” (That would be too much of a disappointment.)

“Ang katawhan na ang mo-desisyon kung maayo ba ang ilang gibuhat o dili ba. Dili lang nga ako ra (ang mo-desisyon),” Carreon added. (It would be the people that will be the judge.)

The barangay chief explained that since Gwen and Pablo John assumed their respective offices, they have brought several projects to Bagakay including electrification and the construction of their barangay hall. — (FREEMAN)