Carcar City loan: Alcoseba admits he stalled resolution

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Provincial Board Member Yayoy Alcoseba admitted that he has caused the delay in the approval of Carcar City’s P600 million loan, saying that it is mired in irregularities.

“Yes, of course, kinsa man diay? P600 million loan, ang collateral ang IRA (internal revenue allotment), asa man sila’g ipuli ana nga wa may laing income ang Carcar?” Alcoseba said in an interview.

Carcar City Mayor Nicepuro Apura earlier said the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) has released the amount they loaned despite the pending approval from the PB.

Assuming this is the case, it is a “violation” of the law, said Alcoseba.

“According to the ordinance, there should be an approval of the board. But if DBP has released the amount, they could be violating it,” he said.

Alcoseba, who represents the first district in the PB, said he is against the passage of the loan as the city reportedly did not do a feasibility study if it can pay the loan at P70 million per year for the next 15 years. He said the city reportedly also has no other source of income to replace the P70 million as payment to the loan.

“This can disrupt the basic services if they let that happen,” he said.

 “Di siya maluoy sa taga Carcar nga 15 years magbayad sa utang? May’g mayor gihapon siya for 15 years,” he added.

The P600 million has been earmarked for the construction of a four-story Carcar City Hall, a public market and a terminal, which will be built at the 30-hectare Eco City Center. The property will also house a police station, auction hub and others.

However, Alcoseba said that even the 30-hectare property is questionable since it is still subject for litigation.

Alcoseba said the board will call for a public hearing before they decide to approve the loan. —/ATO (FREEMAN)