PAG PROJECT WALANG FUND ang GOVERNMENT FRUSTRATING & ANNOYING TALAGA" Funding withdrawal for DZR Airport rehab meet with disapproval Oct 7th, 2013 TACLOBAN CITY- The move of the Department of Budget and Management to withdraw the more than P700 million out of the P1 billion funding for the rehabilitation of the Daniel Z. Romualdez (DZR) Airport was met with criticism and disappointment. Lawyer Nick Esmale, media officer of Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, said that the move was not only disappointing but outrageous. “So that’s the straight path policy, curbing the originally assigned fund by the General Annual Appropriations law in order to bribe many senators to assure (former chief justice Renato) Corona’s conviction,” Esmale said. “We will endure painly same airport again and if no refunding of it comes back, we might be forgotten,” Romualdez’ media officer added. He added that it only shows that the Aquino administration still feel sore to the Romualdezes to the extent of sacrificing in funding projects that the public at large could benefit. Earlier, Transportation and Communications Sec. Joseph Emilio Abaya admitted to Rep. Romualdez that P718.752 million was withdrawn by the DBM and transferred to the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), whose legality is being questioned. The money was part of the P1 billion intended for the rehabilitation of the DZR Airport. Lawyer Bautista Corpin, executive director of Lakas- Christian Muslim Democrat, for his part, said that they are contemplating on what possible actions they would do next regarding this matter. “But initially, we were disappointment. But we are still studying what possible actions on what we will do. But we will write to the DBM and the DOTC for them to explain why they have withdrawn the funding intended for the DZR project,” Corpin, reached on his phone, said. Romualdez, himself, could not be reached for his comment. His cousin, Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez, declined to issue a comment except to say that the Romualdezes are doing their best for the project to be realized only to be meet circumstances that are beyond their control. “The people should not blame us why this project is delayed,” he said. Father Amadeo Alvero, spokesperson of the archdiocese of Palo, could only express his disappointment. “I feel disappointment because the (improvement of our airport) will not only help boost our economy but better its service to our people using the facility,” Alvero said in a text message. Orlando Uy, former president of the Leyte Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), said that it was surprising why the money has to be withdrawn considering that any improvement at the DZR Airport will benefit not only the people of Tacloban but the rest of Eastern Visayas. “I think if the money was transferred to the DAP, then we should be vigilant on how our senators, for example, will spend with the money,” Uy said. Go Tic Cheng, president of the Tacloban Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Inc., meantime, said that the withdrawal of the funding would only further delay the DZR improvements. “The passengers have suffered long enough with the sorry condition of our airport,” he said, referring to the congested and lack ventilation of the DZR Airport. BY: JOEY A. GABIETA, Staffwriter Related content: DZR Airport rehab in danger? DBM transfer fund to DAP DZR airport X-ray machine out of order Rehab of Catbalogan airport pushed DOTC implements P70.5-M major projects for Maasin Airport DPWH bares ongoing projects in Tacloban MOODTHINGLY
Posted on: Tue, 08 Oct 2013 03:01:45 +0000
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