Gov, board member trade barbs over P265 project funds

By Mark Baybay

BONTOC, Mountain Province – Gov. Leonard Mayaen branded as unfortunate the actuations of Board Member Francis Balisong questioning implementation of a P37 million farm-to-market road project in Besao town and his request to hold in abeyance the release of the P228 million loan of the Provincial Government of Mountain Province from the land Bank of the Philippines.

“I am a bit surprised by the latest moves of Board Member Balisong. For your information, I signed the payment for the road project in Besao after proper inspections were done by engineers of the Provincial Engineering Office and technical people from the Land Bank. The loan was likewise approved by Land Bank after we submitted pertinent documents and having gone through the required procedure,” Mayaen told heads of provincial offices in a meeting.

The governor said just like signing routine papers, affixing a signature for the payment of any infrastructure project is a ministerial function of a local chief executive.

Balisong made an earlier letter of the same contents addressed to the Land Bank and President Noynoy Aquino but were not given weight with the approval of the loans.

Meanwhile, Vice Governor Bonifacio Lacwasan threw his support to the governor saying the letter will not in a way affect the resolution passed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan authorizing Mayaen to negotiate the loan.

“We approved the resolution because of our belief that the projects funded by the loan, if implemented, redounds to the benefit of the people whom we have sworn to serve,” Lacwasan said.

A review of the minutes of the Sannguniang Panlalawigan meeting revealed Balisong never objected when the resolutions to authorize the governor to negotiate the loans were deliberated.

Mayaen said 80 percent of the loan will be used to rehabilitate provincial roads to hasten development in the province.

A group of businessmen earlier lauded the initiative of the governor in prioritizing the repair of existing road networks.

“It does not only hasten but it also evenly spreads development to all areas in province. Agriculture which is the main source of livelihood of our people will surely be given a boost since access to the market will be improved,” the businessmen said.

But even as the governor said he felt saddened by the turn of events, he nonetheless welcomed the dissenting opinion of Balisong saying his comments will help improve implementation of projects in the province.

“I will not take it personally against him. Everybody has his own opinion but the majority will always prevail. This is democracy in action,” Mayaen said.