TORRALBA |
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Former
mayor Joe Torralba has filed a complaint at the Ombudsman
against the rehabilitate-operate-transfer (ROT) scheme
adopted by the city government for the unfinished Agora
building.
A
similar complaint was also submitted at the Commission
on Audit (COA), Commission on Elections (Comelec) and
the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)
according to Torralba during the candidates' forum for
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mayoralty
bets, a joint undertaking of Station dyRD, dyZD and BCCTV.
The
charges filed by Torralba was bared after incumbent Mayor
Dan Lim challenged his opponent to sue him if he sees irregularities
in the bidding process of the Agora rehabilitation plan.
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Torralba
said he does not question the decision to complete the
Agora but his objection is on the manner the bidding
process was undertaken by City Hall and the adoption
of the ROT contract even without a feasibility study
and COA appraisal.
The
bidding was allegedly "rushed" to in time
for the election ban, Torralba said.
In
answering the former mayor, Lim pointed out that for
nine years as city mayor, Torralba was not able to find
means of finishing the Agora while the unfinished structure
is highly questionable with almost P50 million already
spent.
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Mayor
Lim said even city councilors allied with the former mayor
approved the Agora rehabilitation scheme. The mayor clarified
that he had to set aside other priority projects of the city
as the public demanded for the completion of the Agora.
In
turn, Lim accused Torralba of irregularities in the overpriced
construction of the Integrated Bus Terminal and City Central
Market and the new City Hall.
OTHER
ISSUES
The
city mayoralty candidates where also made to respond to questions
and concerns during the forum.
Both
candidates were asked to cite their accomplishments during
their respective terms of office as city mayor.
Torralba
cited the construction of economic enterprise projects such
as the central market, bus terminal, slaughter house and motorpool
with heavy equipment. The former mayor also mentioned the
city park in barangay Cabawan, Sandugo Shrine, the Tagbilaran
City Port which was undertaken with the national government,
the concreting and asphalting of city streets and the institutionalization
of the Cogon Night High School.
Lim,
for his part, explained that his first three years as mayor
was dedicated to improve governance and provide better services
to Tagbilaranons. The provision of free uniforms for public
elementary school students, healthcare support systems through
the Blue Card and the Botika sa Katawhan and the adoption
of multiple intelligence now started in day care centers in
all 15 barangays.
The
incumbent mayor noted that discipline have been established
among city government employees while the city's revenue collections
have improved during his term.
Torralba
criticized Lim for not attending to barangay problems and
for sitting on building permits and subdivision plans.
Asked
to state his plans for the next three years, Lim said he will
prioritize the establishment of socialized housing for poor
families especially in barangays Cogon and Booy.
For
his part, Torralba said he will approve pending applications
for housing development and subdivision plans to complement
the Uptown Tagbilaran housing, Muslim Village, Habitat Village,
Capitol Valley, Teachers Village that were set up during his
time.
Lim
clarified that building permits were not approved because
of deficiencies and most of the subdivisions in the city have
not complied with basic requirements such as a drainage system
but were allowed during Torralba's administration.
On
their respective program for the city's peace and order and
fighting illegal drugs, Torralba said he will give full support
to the police and the City Peace and Order Council (CPOC).
In
fact, during his (Torralba) term, the city police was adjudged
as one of the most outstanding police force. Likewise, the
CPOC had a similar recognition during his administration,
Torralba said.
Torralba
said he will appoint a Chief of Police who will go after illegal
gambling and illegal drugs. He claimed that the city police
during his time were in high morale and had a high crime solving
rate.
Lim
refuted Torralba's claim, however, saying that the peace and
order situation in the city has improved and is much better
in his term. The incumbent mayor rendered a lecture on the
handling of intelligence funds which is being questioned by
the Torralba camp. Lim said that the audit and liquidation
of the city's intelligence fund is pursuant to COA guidelines
and were, in fact, acknowledged by the COA chairman.
Torralba
responded that he is questioning the "excessive"
allocation of intelligence fund compared to the P800,000 during
his term and not the process of its liquidation.
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