Why is the 7th District the luckiest?

Why is it that among the seven congressional districts in Cebu, the seventh has had the biggest allocables in 2025 and in other fiscal years? What was the mysterious Catral formula used in deciding which district should get how much?

The 7th District comprising Cebu province's eight less-developed towns, (except the more progressive Dumanjug) which I collectively call DRAMMBAG - Dumanjug, Ronda, Alcantara, Moalboal, Malabuyoc, Badian, Alegria, and Ginatilan, received no less than ?11.634 billion of NEP infra projects in 2025 The highest in Cebu and in Central Visayas. Why are we so blessed?

The former congressman of this district, who happens to be the husband of the incumbent, was a deputy chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, headed by the now infamous Zaldy Co. I think he owes it to the people of the eight towns to identify where these projects are, and their respective status. He should reveal who are the contractors, and tell whether they include flood-control projects.

The 7th District, which had the lowest population among the seven congressional districts in the province of only 214,364 people a few years back, got a pork barrel slice larger than the 1st District with a population of 800,000 plus but with an allocation of only ?8.4 billion. The 1st District has three component cities. The seventh has no city. This is the district I grew up in. I should be happy but I’m wondering why we’re so lucky.

The seventh surpassed Cebu City's south district which was only given ?3.1 billion; never mind that the 6th District which was given only a smaller allocation.

But the 7th District with an allocation of a whopping ?11.634 billion dwarfed the 2nd District with much bigger area and population and with the huge towns of Argao and Dalaguete. Of course the 2nd District congressman was not a deputy chairman of the appropriations committee under Co and speaker and presidential cousin Martin Romualdez.

The congressman representing the blessed 7th District, which happens to be where I come from, should explain to the people why Malabuyoc, a fourth-class municipality with an area of only 69.27 square kilometers and a population of 20,378 people in 14 barangays, would be allocated with too high a budget much bigger than Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City?

There’s nothing wrong with a big budget allocation. In fact, the people should commend the congressman for bringing home the bacon, but where are they spending it? If he is a true gentleman, he should come up with a written report to the people on these. Why has the former congressman remained silent amidst all the noises about the raging infra imbroglio?

Also, the regional director of DPWH, who reportedly used to be the district engineer covering this town and who allegedly was a wedding godson of the congressman, should also come out and conduct a press briefing about this budgetary incongruity. As regional head of the implementing agency, it’s his duty and responsibility to tell the people the rhyme and reason for such a budgetary allocation. But Secretary Vince Dizon already relieved the godson of the former congressman. And I figure not without good reasons.

We aren’t questioning the manner of the implementation of the projects, not yet anyway. We’re just asking where are these projects with exact coordinates and locations, who are the contractors, what’s the cost of every project, what’s the percentage of completion and above all, how was the project decided? What was the strategic planning philosophy and rationale for why, of all the districts in the Philippines, these projects were resolved to be undertaken in the seventh.

As public officials, they can be asked by the ombudsman to explain. If they have nothing to hide, they shouldn’t wait for a formal complaint from the people. They should jump the gun and tell the people what they deserve to know. They shouldn’t hide under the mantle of silence. They should explain how much their allocables are and non-allocables too. They should reveal who determines and what is the secret formula for determining which district should be as lucky as the seventh. Explain the power of the number 7. Their silence is too deafening. Mahiya naman sila.

There’s no malice when concerned people are asking the obvious and want to know the truth. Silence isn’t an option. Indifference isn’t a defense. Public officials are accountable. And the people deserve to know. No more and no less.