Parallel deliberations pushed for loan plan

CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City Councilor Doroteo Emit, chairman of the committee on labor, trade and industry, wants the city's executive and legislative branches to hold "parallel deliberations" in discussing issues pertaining to the proposed multimillion-peso loan for the construction of the new Tabunok Public Market.

"The construction of a new public market is a project of magnitude. Not only does it entail huge amount of public funds, but the preparations, the studies, the documentary requisites and all other matters that need to be addressed necessitate a careful, thorough, systematic and intensive work," Emit said in his letter addressed to Mayor Johnny De los Reyes.

Last March 11, the mayor issued a memorandum directing Vice Mayor Romeo Villarante, Councilors Danilo Caballero, chairman of the committee on market, and Emit to submit a report on development plan of the Tabunok market within 15 days.

De los Reyes wanted the three to submit their evaluation report and comparison with other studies before the final deadline on March 26.

But Emit said 15 days as deadline for the project study and strategic plans is not substantial enough.

"I cannot act on something, which would affect not just the vendors but also the general public, without exhausting all possible means to have a proper study, sound evaluation and assessment," Emit said.

Emit said it's necessary for both executive and legislative departments to sit down together in order to resolve once and for all the traffic woes, unsanitary conditions and disorderliness in the market.

It can be recalled that the mayor is eyeing to loan close to P387 million for the four-storey market's construction.

Villarante said that the legislative body was doing its share to push the mayor's project, according to the legal process that best serves the welfare and interest of the Talisaynons.

"The Sangguniang Panlungsod shall duly inform and coordinate with your office on the results of its committee hearings and may invite you or your department heads to shed light on relevant issues," Villarante's letter to the mayor said.

Villarante said the city council already created a committee as a whole to study on what action to take relative to the loan.

If the city council gives authority to the mayor to negotiate with any government bank institution for the said loan, the city will be paying P5 million a month for a period of 10 years.

Villarante ealier said if the mayor wanted to speed up the loan agreement, the council might end up not supporting his request giving him the authority to enter into an agreement with the banking institution.

The vice mayor said there are other options that can be considered even without loaning from a bank.

"Pwede ra man ipa-repair nato ang merkado and construct a drainage there or the mayor can ask Malacañang, through the Regional Development Council, to finance the construction of the market," Villarante said.

For his part, De los Reyes earlier said the project is long overdue. (FREEMAN)