Source: Cebu Daily News | Cebu's Only Independent Newspaper
Yesterday, he said it was not true the provincial government had a P2 billion surplus last year.
He said Provincial Treasurer Roy Salubre told him the Capitol actually only had P400 million.
“Probably the governor can shed light. I didn't ask before because I might be scolded. I only knew about it from the treasurer that the province only had P400 million or P500 million surplus,” Sanchez said.
“I told myself, we don’t have the money so why did we buy the land of the Balilis? We had other priority projects the deserve attention,” referring to his Trans-axial Highway proposal, which had long been tabled.
He said the P2 billion surplus was true only before the CICC was built at a cost of P800 million for Cebu's hosting of the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in 2007.
In her State of the Province Address last July, Governor Garcia said Cebu province was the richest province in the country with a P2-billion surplus and was debt-free.
Sought for comment yesterday, Capitol spokesman Rory Jon Sepulveda said Cebu province is financially sound.
“In due time , Greg, I'm going to reveal to the public who you really are,” he warned.
Sepulveda said that while part of the P2 billion has been spent, new funds have been coming in. He said the province’s special savings deposit was between P700 million and P1 billion, and was earning interest in the bank.
“Yes, the P2 billion surplus before is not 100 percent there because it would be bad management if you dont utilize this money for government projects. But it doesn't mean nga walay nag-sud nga kwarta karon bag-o sa probinsya,” he said. “I assure you the province is very, very much liquid.”
Sepulveda called Sanchez the real “dictator” since the vice governor had been trying to stop the entry of Tuburan officials who are Sanchez’s political rivals in his hometown, into the One Cebu party.
He called Sanchez, a “political butterfly” who started his political career with the Promdi party of former governor Lito Osmeña then shifted to the camp of the Martinezes, before jumping ship to join the Garcias and now, Davide.
Sepulveda said Governor Garcia did not berate Sanchez for recommending the rescission of the Balili land deal. She was was just not pleased that the vice governor made a conclusion about the land deal before the Provincial Board had finished its proble.
Sepulveda said Governor Garcia allocated P16 millin for a pre-feasibility study for the Trans-axial road project, contrary to Sanchez claims of no support.
Yet, he added, Sanchez's office only came up with three-volume pre-feasibility study or a concept paper.
He said Sanchez wanted to be the one to hold the bidding, which could not be done being the vice governor. To reach a compromise, Garcia allowed the economic enterprise council, co-chaired by Sanchez and Garcia, to handle it.
But the council unanimously agreed that there was one fatal mistake in the proposal: the alignment of the road encroached portions of city of Cebu.
CAPITOL: Lain nasad nga bakak
kalouy nato na mga taga probinsya...
Originally Posted by yacky2006
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