Project snubs Macabug execs

OFFICIALS of Macabug were enraged when the 4^th Leyte Engineering District (Led) conducted a ceremony starting a road-concreting project in their community on Oct. 21 without their knowledge. Barangay Captain Marina T. Placido’s blood pressure rose upon seeing a backhoe on the site without her being informed.

She immediately confronted Joniever Achacoso, proprietor of Achacoso Enterprises. “Nakaminus gyud ni sila namo. Naa unta mi sa inyong groundbreaking. Problema gyud na ninyo pagkahuman kay dili gyud ko mopirma (sa acceptance sa proyekto)!” Placido threatened the contractor.

“Nakalimot gyud ko kap. Boanga, nakalimot ko. Pasayloa ko kap, nakalimot gyud ko,” said Achacoso who was embarrassed for the breach of protocol. But Placido is convinced they were deliberately left out considering the project appeared to be initiated by Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez as indicated by a tarpaulin.

“Basin ang napilde nga kapitan maoy ilang gipasabot kay mao man tong ilang kapartido. Gisagulan gyud nila’g politika ang proyekto nga para unta ngadto sa katawhan,” Placido said, adding that they are not against the project but by the way they were bypassed. She reminded 4^th Led that the barangay is a local government unit by itself. “Bisan tuod Codilla mi, dili man ingon nga dili modawat. Basta lang kaayohan sa katawhan, nganong dili man dawaton?” she said.

But 4^th Led clarified that the farm-to-market road is not a project of Rep. Gomez but by the Department of Agriculture (DA). Asked why the congresswoman’s tarpaulin didn’t credit DA, District Engineer Lino Francisco C. Gonzales said he couldn’t do anything if a politician lays claim on a certain project.

The 475-meter road concreting worth P5 million leads to Leyte Golf & Country Club in Mabini. Other DA-funded farm-to-market roads to be implemented by 4^th Led are Can-untog-Quezon Jr. in Ormoc and Cambalong-Mainit in Merida town that are worth P5 million each.

Engr. Gonzales admitted the faux pas on their failure to invite barangay officials to the ceremony because of their intention to speed up the project. But he assured that their planning department informed Placido about the project beforehand. by Jun Tarroza

(Issue of Oct. 24-30, 2011)