Where in the world is the town of Malabuyoc?

Of the total flood control allocation for Cebu, which was no less than P25.521 billion (with a big B, not M), no less than about one-half or 12.06 billion were specifically allocated for the favored seventh district of Cebu. And out of the P12.06 billion, a lion's share of P3.3 billion was secured for the favorite town of Malabuyoc. Why and by what rhyme and reason? Why is Malabuyoc so favored by the gods of DPWH?

Of the 395 total number of flood control projects for the whole province of Cebu, from Bogo and Bantayan to Santander and Samboan, the seventh district was favored with no less than 162 projects, or 41 percent. And out of the 162, Malabuyoc was favored by the gods with 38 or an amazing 23.45 percent. Malabuyoc is the most favored among the eight towns in the seventh, namely DRAMMBAG or Dumanjug, Ronda, Alcantara, Moalboal, Malabuyoc, Badian, Aleria and Ginatilan. Is there a scientific basis showing that Malabuyoc faces more risks than the tourist towns of Badian and Moalboal?

And so, everyone outside of Cebu, including personnel of the Central Office of the DPWH, as well as the new Appropriations Committee of the Lower House in the Twentieth Congress, and its counterpart in the Senate are asking the same question: Where in the world is this place and what makes it very special as to have been favored by the Nineteenth Congress. The people from North Cebu do not even know the exact location of Malabuyoc. People in Congress as well as those in the Palace who manage the Isumbong Sa Pangulo platform are wondering where this town is located.

Malabuyoc is 132.3 kilometers southwest of Cebu City. Due to the questionable quality of the road, thanks to DPWH, it may take six hours or more to travel by land from the city of Cebu to this town.  North of this town is the municipality of Alegria and south is Ginatilan, the last town of the seventh district. South of Ginatilan is Samboan which is already part of the second district, which was gerrymandered by former congressmen Pablo Garcia and Willy Caminero. East is the town of Boljoon and west is the Tanon Strait. Malabuyoc is directly fronting Bais City and Tanjay City in the province of Negros Oriental.

Of all the 8 towns of the seventh district, Malabuyoc, which is one of the smallest in area and population, got the biggest share of flood control projects in the entire province of Cebu. Malabuyoc has a population of only 19,000 while Ronda has 21,00 and Dumanjug has 59,594. Badian has a population of 44,626 and Moalboal has 37,993. But, along with Alcantara, Alegria and Ginatilan, they were all beaten by Malabuyoc. There is no palpable evidence indicating that this favored town has more hazards in the nature of flood related risks. The allocation of 41 percent of the total budget is patently arbitrary and whimsical.

On Cebu's total budget of 25.521 billion, allocation, the seventh district is favored with 12. 06 billion. Those figures mean, by simple mathematical calculation, that the seventh congressional district of Cebu got a big slice of 47. 25 percent of the total flood control allocation for the entire province. The seventh district has beaten the biggest and most prosperous and perhaps also the most flood-prone district in Cebu, which is the first district. If you are familiar with the realities on the ground and the terrains in Talisay, Minglanilla, Naga, San Fernando, Carcar and Sibonga, you will tend to agree that there is no reason why a tiny district like the seventh should get a larger slice than the first.

In terms of area and population, the seventh is also much smaller compared to the second, the third, the fourth, and the fifth. But the first district got only a small 3.01 billion for 36 projects. That means that Congresswoman Rhea Gullas' district got only 11.79 percent of Cebu's total budgetary allocation compared to Congresswoman Patricia Calderon's seventh which cornered no less than 41 percent. The third district of Congresswoman Karen Flores Garcia got only 1.95 billion for 43 projects, which is a measly .076 percent of the total Cebu allocation. This huge disparity is unexplainable because the third district includes the flood prone city of Toledo and the huge tons of Balamban and Barili.

Congressman Duke Frasco, who was then a Deputy Speaker, was beaten by the vice chair of the appropriation committee, Peter John Calderon, who got no less than 41 percent of the whole Cebu budget for flood control, while Frasco's fifth district, comprising a big city, Danao and no less than 10 towns of Borbon, Carmen, Catmon, Compostela, Liloan, Sogod and the Camotes towns of Pilar, Poro, San Francisco and Tudela. Frasco only got a miniscule 1.40 billion or a mere one half of one percent of the total budget for Cebu's flood control. The seventh Cong Calderon got 41 percent.

The fourth districh of Congresswoman Janice Salimbangon, now Shun Shimura manage to receive 1.31 billion for its much larger territory and bigger population. The second district got only a third of a billion, the lowest allocation in the entire province of Cebu. There is no problem with the sixth district, which is a gerrymandered two non-contiguous towns of Consolacion and Cordova for it managed to win a good allocation of 2.09 billion for 28 projects.

The seventh district and Malabuyoc are favored without any rhyme or reason. The allocation is capricious and without any basis in law and in fact. It was a grave abuse of discretion. The Independent Commission should investigate this and I have a long line of witnesses from our district who are ready to testify. I know where Malabuyoc is. The people are nice and the place is beautiful. It does not need excessive flood control.