More
than a year ago, we recalled having made an open letter to the President in her
visit here. That open letter contained a short wish list.
One
of the items in our list was the removal of those steel materials from the city
port delivered by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reportedly
for the President's bridge program.
As
to where those materials would be used, who caused the delivery and who will receive
it, nobody knows.
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The
materials were delivered in the heat of the campaign for the 2004 presidential
elections, reports said.
Not
a few suspected that the delivery of these materials was part of an election scam
especially so that initial investigation showed that it was not really intended
for Bohol but for Negros Oriental.
Even
the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) does not know the details and purpose of
these materials until today. Engr. Raul Oblenda could attest to that.
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There
is a need to investigate the circumstances surrounding those materials still dumped
at the city port.
It
does not only pose an eyesore for the trade fairs during the month-long Sandugo
festivities next month. Worse, it now poses health hazard as human wastes are
now prevalent around the place where the materials are dumped.
Gov.
Erico Aumentado has reportedly given DPWH a deadline to remove the materials on
or before June 15.
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Whether
the steel materials would be removed from the city pier after June 15, we still
believe that an investigation is in order.
Tomorrow,
we shall sponsor a resolution asking the appropriate government agencies and other
concerned entities to look into the shenanigan behind the delivery of those materials
in the city port more than two years ago.
In
the first place, the city has territorial jurisdiction in the place where the
materials are being dumped and the PPA will certainly not dip its fingers into
this mess.
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