Progress roadblocks

MANILA, Philippines - This refers to the news report of STAR correspondent Manny Galvez about the string of graft suits filed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) against Nueva Ecija Governor Aurelio Umali before the office of the Ombudsman. The cases stemmed allegedly from Gov. Umali’s failure to secure the required approval of his administration’s projects from the SP.

The alleged failure of the provincial executive to consult and/or refer his administration’s projects to the SP not only smacks of lack of transparency but also renders inutile the latter’s mandate of maintaining check and balances in the provincial government’s operations and transactions. This stands in the way towards attainment of the province’s real progress and prosperity.

Here, in Cabanatuan City, a similar rift recently surfaced between Mayor Alvin Vergara and the Sangguniang Panglungsod, when for some reason or another, the former reportedly did not obtain the needed approval of two of his administration’s latest projects from the latter. These projects involved the purchase of two parcels of land for the city’s material recovery facility (MRF) and the renewal/reissuance of motorized tricycle operator permits and color-coded plate numbers.

Slighted and offended, the Sangguniang Panlungsod came out with resolutions denouncing and condemning the lapses and omissions of the Mayor and his cohorts.

If not resolved, the brewing disharmony between Mayor Alvin and the city council would not do good for Cabanatuan, which in 2007 was rated and chosen by the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) as one of the nation’s top-performing and competitive mid-sized cities.

To protect and sustain the gains that our city has thus far achieved, the Cabanatuan City electorate should on May 10 choose a leader who can rally the support of the entire city government machinery towards his administration’s programs, projects and advocacies. — PRUDENCIO E. MAGPAYO, MS Garcia, Cabanatuan City