Women groups protest demolition of capitol building: 3 Mt Province governors at odds over P166M loan

By Alfred P. Dizon

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- Two former governors and cause-oriented groups of this province are opposing an impending loan of P166 million of the provincial government headed by Gov. Leonard Mayaen to demolish and build a new provincial capitol among other projects, saying this would put the province heavily in debt due to high interest rates.

Former governors Jaime K. Gomez and SarioMalinias are reportedly against the plan even as concerned groups and individuals of Mountain Province are planning protest actions against these.

According to observers, this has politicized the issue considering Mayaen is running for the same post as governor this coming May elections.

Despite criticisms to the loan and impending demolition of the provincial capital, Mayaen told media that papers related to the loan were in order while a new capitol building was needed to serve constituents better.

Evelyn Miranda, former provincial administrator bared these saying a loose provincial women’s group which she heads will file cases against provincial officials as a result of the loan and impending demolition of the capitol.

“We are however still studying the legal merits of the cases,” she said.

The loan is supposed to be released by the Land Bank branch of La Union, but the bank manager is reportedly not about to release the money unless the provincial government complies with all requirements.

The provincial government reportedly applied for a P228 million loan from the Land Bank using the province’s Internal Revenue Allotment as collateral but this was lowered by the bank to P166 million.

This, after the provincial board or SangguniangPanlalawigan Ordinance No. 138 “authorizing the proposed borrowing of the provincial government of Mountain Province P228 million to fund various infrastructure projects of the province.”

Ordinance 138 was signed by SB members Alfonso L. Kiat-ongSr, Johnny V. Lausan, Carmelito M. Masidong, Constitu S. Masweng, Salvador K. Dalang and Randolph T. Awisan.

It was also signed by Vice Gov. Bonifacio C. Lacwasan and Gov. Mayaen certified true and correct by Eufemia C. Lamen, SB secretary.

Lamen is the widow of Gov. Binky Lam-en, who died a few years ago.

Binky’s father Alfredo Lam-en was former governor of the province.

“The loan will be disadvantageous to the people of Mountain Province as the province will have to pay an annual seven percent interest annually,” Miranda said.

According to the former provincial administrator, the province is entitled to around P80 million as development funds from the Internal Revenue Allotment which represents 20 percent of the province’s IRA.

“The province should instead use the P80 million judiciously for projects instead of loaning P166 million from the land bank with the people having to pay a large interest,” she added.

Miranda and some concerned Bontoc women recently held a press conference at Mandarin Restaurant in Baguio City saying they were protesting the loan and the demolition of the capitol saying it was a historical site.

According to Miranda, the provincial government was able to get a permit from the National Historical Commission to demolish the capitol after informing the NHC that the building was dilapidated and a fire hazard.

Bong Cawed, a Bontoc native and former Baguio City Environment and Parks Officer told this writer during the press conference if the provincial government is intent in building a new capitol, they should see to it that the structure be made stronger and aesthetic but should retain its historical design.

Miranda said the provincial government is set to demolish the capitol anytime even if the Land Bank loan has not been released yet.

“As far as I know, there was no appropriation ordinance to demolish and build a new capitol and other infrastructure projects. This is illegal considering that the funds for the projects will come from the P166 million loan.”

Aside from these, there was reportedly no certification from a civil engineer or concerned government agency on the structural status of the capitol.

The projects, including the construction of a new capitol, have reportedly been bid out after these were posted in the government’s online procurement website.

The Capitol building has a budget of P28 million which forms part of a loan package from the Land Bank.

This development was made public earlier by Mayaen after 82 percent of polled employees of the provincial government and national line agencies housed at the provincial capitol gave their approval for the dismantling of the main building to give way for the construction of a new one.

Three hundred fifty survey questionnaires were floated by the Provincial Human Resource Management Office to Bontoc-based employees who are considered the end users.

The same were retrieved and counted by a committee composed of Provincial Assessor Marjorie Kiat-ong, Provincial Planning Officer Lily Rose Kollin and Provincial Engineer Arsenio Dongael.

Of the 350 respondents, 289 opted for a yes vote while 57 voted no.

Three were still undecided and one was invalidated due to unnecessary markings.

The Philippine Historical Commission approved the demolition of the capitol building.

In his letter to the governor dated March 23, 2012, National Historical Commission chairman Maria Serena Diokno raised no
objection to the plan as long as its architectural design will be integrated in the new structure.

The SangguniangPanlalawigan came out with a resolution last Jan. 27 authorizing the demolition of the capitol building.
Sources said the left portion will be demolished and constructed first to ensure flow of office transactions.
The other half will only be dismantled when the new structure will be ready for occupancy.

Originally called the Bontoc Government Building, the structure was a two-storey rectangle shaped one with an attic.
The columns and walls at the first floor were made of bricks while the wall and columns of the second floor were of wooden materials.

The left portion of the building was used as the official residence of the governor which explains the presence of a fireplace.
In the late 1930’s, a two storey building was built at the back and was connected to the main building by wooden footbridges.
This housed the offices of the assessor and the health officer.

This was demolished and a four storey concrete building was constructed sometime in 2007 to 2010.

The right and left wings of the main building were appended in the 1970’s during the incumbency of Gov. Gomez.

The right wing became the office of the governor while the left wing was for the vice governor.

In 1989, under the late Alfredo “Binky” Lamen, Jr. who was then the acting governor, the old brick columns at the first floor were changed to concrete but finished with a brick-like design.

The porch at the second floor was also rehabilitated during the term of Gov. MaximoDalog where the wooden porch and railings were concreted.

Dalog is now congressman of the province.

The only remnants of the original structure are the galvanized roof and the wooden materials at the attic and at the second floor.

Before the repair of the first floor, the building was considered a fire hazard with wooden materials, worn out by time, fast deteriorating.