GMA releases funds as birthday gift to Chavit

VIGAN City – All is fully well between President Arroyo and former Ilocos Sur governor Luis “Chavit” Singson as she gifted him during his 67th birthday celebration yesterday by releasing overdue funds for the province and neighboring provinces.

The former governor announced the fund releases when he acknowledged the greetings of a jampacked crowd gathered at his sprawling Baluarte residence compound in Barangay Tamag here where the celebration was held.

“Nangted ni Presidente ti kasapulan tay unay a pondo (The President gave us much needed funds), “Chavit told the crowd who came from various Ilocos Sur villages including the hinterland areas and delegations from other Ilocos provinces.

Mrs. Arroyo didn’t make it to Chavit’s special day as she was reportedly preparing to leave for official visit to the United States yesterday.She had always been attending Chavit’s birthday in the past.

The two parted ways after the President granted pardon to Chavit’s nemesis former President Joseph Estrada who was convicted of plunder. Chavit was the government’s main witness in the case.

Chavit said he asked Mrs. Arroyo to release the funds which he said are very much needed by the Ilocos provinces to cushion the impact of the increase in oil and food prices.

He noted the spiralling costs of agricultural inputs needed by the farmers as a result of the increasing fuel prices. In turn, prices of food are jacking up and beyond the reach of our people, he said. 

He appealed for national unity and asked everyone to set aside political differences in the face of a worldwide food crisis and oil price surge as he noted reports on bloody skirmishes and unrest in other countries due to food shortages.

Among the guests in attendance were Public Highways Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane, Ilocos Norte Gov. Michael Keon, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, Deputy Speaker Eric Singson, Quezon City Rep. Vincent Crisologo, former Sen. Heherson Alvarez, Superintendent Romeo Hilomen, chief of PNP Region I, and the Ambassadors of Italy, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Pakistan and Turkey.

Ilocos Sur Gov. Deogracias Victor Savellano told The Star that the bulk of the fund releases came from the tobacco excise tax collections of the national government.

R.A. 7171 which was authored by Singson during his stint in Congress in l987 mandates the government to provide shares to the Virginia tobacco producing provinces – Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, Abra and La Union – from the tobacco tax proceeds.  

Savellano disclosed to The Star that Ilocos Sur was alloted P57,232,355. The amount represents part of the province’s share for last year’s tobacco tax collections, it was learned.

The governor said that the partial release would empower the provincial government in helping the farmers with fertilizer and other requirements.

He expressed hope that the President will also release the remaining balance of the province’s revenue share which is reportely “bigger.”  

Chavit also announced that P500 million was released by the President for the Salomague Port development in Cabugao town. The port, a pet project of Singson which he rebuilt during his term, has been listed as a super region project of the national government.

He reported that Mrs. Arroyo pledged to support all other mega projects in the region including Phase 2 of the Banaoang Irrigation Dam project initiated by Rep. Eric Singson.

Phase one that will benefit eight towns of Ilocos Sur’s first district will be completed and inaugurated next year, Chavit said. Former Rep. Salacnib Baterina with Chavit’s support started the project four years ago. – With Myds Supnad