The Catanduanes Tribune


Vol. XX No. 47	January 31, 2001	Virac, Catanduanes

Headlines

Major Developments

The Catanduanes Tribune

Rawis, Virac

Catanduanes,

Philippines - 5001

Tel. No.:

   (052) 811-1267

   or 811-2640

Fax No.:

   (052) 811-1267

E-mail:

Cattribune@cs.com



Publisher-Editor

Edwin A. Gianan

Advertising-

Circulation

Manager

Simeon G. Cueno

Web Master:

Richard T. Revelar

Calgary, Canada

Major Developments

Sparks fly in CDC meeting

Last week's meeting of the Catanduanes Development Council nearly went the way of the strife-ridden Sangguniang Panlalawigan when two provincial board members questioned the presence of a colleague claiming chairmanship of the SP Committee on Appropriations.

As CDC chair Gov. Hector S. Sanchez called the roll during the Jan. 24 meeting at the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO), PBM Carlos M. Aguilar resented his being marked in the roll as "guest" and questioned the presence of PBM Rafael Zuniega as chair of the SP appropriations committee.

In response, Gov. Sanchez read the resolution, passed last Nov. 27, 2000 by PBMs identified with the governor, which named Zuniega as appropriations committee chair, with PBMs Fredeswindo A. Gianan, Jr., Catalino Gabao, Jr, Evelyn Gutierrez and Edgar Tapel as members.

PBM Aguilar retorted that the SP committees have been reorganized last Jan. 15 in a meeting attended by nine members allied with Rep. Leandro B. Verceles, Jr. He added that he heads the new appropriations committee, with PBM Lilia Evangelista as vice chair, and PBMs Rosie Olarte, Gabao and Gutierrez as members, saying that the Nov. 27 resolution was rescinded during the Jan. 15 session.

However, the CDC chairman flatly rejected Aguilar's assertion, saying that he does not recognize him as appropriations committee chair since the Jan. 15 resolution is illegal due to the doubtful status of three of the nine members - San Andres SK chair Jenor Sollegue, Liga vice president Arsenio Romero and former San Andres Mayor Lydia Romano.

In order not delay the meeting, Aguilar said he would yield to the chair's position that he be marked as "guest" but left some parting words to the effect that the approval of the 20% EDF at the SP would prove who holds the majority in the legislative body.

PBM Gabao also objected to Zuniega's presence as well as to the approval of the 2001 Annual Investment Plan, saying that it is illegally funded and must be approved by a 2/3 vote of the board. PBM Zuniega and the governor took turns in opposing Gabao, saying that what is required is a simple majority.

Irked by the failure of the CDC and the SP to pass the budget as well as the AIP, Bato Mayor Lorenzo Templonuevo, Jr. stood up and revealed his sentiments about the matter. He asked SP members to set aside partisan politics and instead work together in approving the 20% EDF because his constituents are waiting for the projects intended for Bato. He stressed that the EDF are not their funds but the people's.

Among the other topics discussed during the meeting were an executive order declaring Feb. 8 as the Liberation Day of Catanduanes, the Food Security Council operation, funding for anti-drug related programs and the status of the provincial GIS project. GIS contractor GSMI, represented by Engr. Arnel Reyes, rendered an impressive audio-visual presentation of aerial photos, consisting of just 14 lines of mapping stations on the eastern side of the province, extending the meeting up to the early evening.