MORE NEWS, BULACAN

Bulacan solon pushes Congress probe on BSP deal with realtor
By George Trillo

MALOLOS CITY – A Bulacan solon said she was nitiating a congressional inquiry on the alleged anomalous arrangement on a huge tract of land in the province between the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and a big time real estate developer in the country.

“I will look into it, and see how it will go,” said Rep. Lorna Silverio of the third congressional district.

Earlier, Ramon Angelo, the president of Waste Custodian Management (Wacuman) and private proponent of the largest sanitary landfill at Sitio Tiakad, Barangay San Mateo, Norzagaray town wrote Silverio a letter asking for a congressional investigation.

Angelo told Silverio he is planning to shut down his sanitary landfill project in an 18-hectare land in Norzagaray town due to “unusual arrangement between the BSP and a certain big time real estate developer, wherein a huge tract of land, a non-performing asset, foreclosed for sometime, auctioned and was offered for sale, preserved and reserved for the latter to re-purchase at any given time.”

Angelo said Rene Carreon, assistant governor for the monetary division of the BSP described the unusual arrangement as a case of “friendly foreclosure.”

In his letter to Silverio, Angelo said, “the huge losses on the part of the government, as a result of this kind of special deal or accommodation are quite unfair to the suffering society. We ask, what formula under our banking laws was applied to this particular account, whose land value was absurdly higher 10 years ago than today’s actual land assessment and zonal value – from P240 per square meter to its present assessed value of P6.

Angelo added, “I have no intention to discredit the involved parties; neither do I wish to create political and financial destabilization scenario. I am just invoking my rights as a citizen and as legitimate investor, who only wish to serve my country through the enhancement of our environment principles. Unfortunately, I have become a victim of unacceptable and unbelievable circumstance.

During an interview with Silverio June 30, she said that she tried to help Angelo in the establishment of his project.

She also said that she even accompanied Angelo to Secretary Eduardo Ermita to follow up his request for an executive order submitted since 2006.

“We are also looking at the possibilities of working out with an executive order for the sanitary landfill project to push through.

She said that the giant sanitary landfill can address the garbage crisis that Metro Manila is facing.


NLEX toll rates reduced

MALOLOS CITY – The Manila North Tollways Corp. started implementing at last week another toll reduction at the North Luzon Expressway, but local motorists said it must be reduced further due to rising cost of gasoline.

It is the second toll rate reduction at the NLEX and will be in force until Dec. 31, 2010. MNTC last reduced toll rates at the NLEX on Jan. 1, 2007.

MNTC said toll rates for Class 1 vehicles that travel the entire 84-km. NLEX from Balintawak to Sta. Ines in Mabalacat, Pampanga will be slashed by P6, while Class 2 vehicles’ toll fees will be reduced by P14 and Class 3 by P17.

Motorists here said it should be lowered further.

Rommel Ramos of Malolos City told newsmen toll reduction will hardly have effect on him because the price of gasoline remains high and continue to go up.

The same was echoed by Jose Gabriel, an engineer from Paombong town who works in Manila.

He said, “dapat mas malaki ang bawas, kasi everyday ako dumadaan sa NLEX.
For his part, Joe Clemente, a resort owner from Paombong town as well said that the toll reduction to be implemented today is too small compared to the toll increase implemented by the MNTC at the NLEX in 2004.

He said that when MNTC assumed operation of the NLEX from the Philippine National Construction Corp., the toll rate was hiked by over 500 percent.

However, there are also motorists who said that the toll reduction gives them a reprieve from increasing high prices.

Claire Buencamino of San Miguel town said “malaking ginhawa sa amin iyan na lumuluwas araw-araw.”

Allan Aguilar of Marilao town said, “Matutuwa ang mga biyahero, namamasukan, estudyante, at mga negosyante sa pagbaba ng toll rate, sana lang ay huwag pababayaan ng maintenance at serbisyo.” – DB