By Ermin Garcia Jr.

 

THE 7 epaLiFes were seen grasping at straws in desperation to escape culpability over the possible loss of the P150 million fund for a Mother and Child Hospital (MCH).

They finally and hurriedly passed the required resolution, authorizing Mayor Belen Fernandez to sign a memorandum of agreement with DOH after realizing that the resolution they passed expressing their “acquiescence” to the project, did not comply with the Department of Health’s requirement.
As usual, they thought that being the majority, they could always rewrite and interpret rules and impose conditions whenever they wanted. Their arrogance manifested anew when they concluded that the DOH would accept their position merely expressing “acquiescence” while belaboring the project’s background under the late Mayor Benjie Lim and his ex-mayor son, Brian, to exonerate them of any responsibility for possibly losing the P150 million fund. They were sorely mistaken.

So they ate humble pie and finally authorized Mayor Belen Fernandez to sign the required memorandum of agreement with DOH for the establishment of the MCH.

But, of course, true to their being epaLiFes, they passed another resolution stipulating that the DOH issues a permit only for the construction of the facility in the area they designate – the vacated office, in complete disregard of DOH’s specification for at least 1,800 sq. meters.  They want DOH to agree to their terms for a smaller area.

Did the infantile minds at the city council think they can impose on the national government when, how, and to whom it should issue a permit??  Tsk tsk.

At any rate, let’s allow their arrogance some room in this game they play since the required resolution was already submitted. Their second resolution was not required so both DOH and the city government have the option to accept it OR to ignore it.

This brings us to the current situation. While Mayor Belen already indicated she is not willing to demolish the buildings used by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Helping Hand Foundation, and the Pangasinan Medical Society (PMS) to give way to the MCH, but she can still show good faith to the second resolution by issuing notices of relocations to the three occupants.

The process will show to the city council and the DOH that the city government is considering all possible options including an earlier proposal to demolish the three buildings since the only alternative proposed by the city council is the 850 sq.m lot vacated by the LTO office, and therefore, not suitable.

While it’s almost certain that all three occupants will officially reject the notices to relocate, nothing should stop DOH from opting to use instead the lot it owns, which is more than the minimum area requirements for the MCH. Besides, the use of proposed alternative lots designated by the City Engineer and City Assessor beside the vacated LTO is not practical. And, DPWH already warned that construction of any structure near and around the bridge and close to the river risks the weakening of the foundation of the bridge.

It will be recalled that the late Mayor BSL himself was confronted with the same difficulty of his administration to provide a suitable area for the MCH.  There was only the Juan Guadiz Elementary School as a possible site but DepEd refused even after he bult a three-storey building inside the Engineering Office compound.

Didn’t the 7 jepaLiFes councilors remind Mayor Belen and DOH how then Mayor BSL tried but failed to establish the MCH? Well, BSL’s experience should teach everyone a lesson – the city government cannot force national agencies to relocate.

In brief, with the resolution authorizing Mayor Belen to sign the memo of agreement already passed nothing should stop the DOH from proceeding with the construction of the MCH on the lot owned by DOH!

The 7 epaLifes who tried to block the city government by preventing Mayor Belen “to benefit” from the project should already stop protesting and show Dagupeños for once that they don’t obstruct everything!

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TOTAL WAR, NOT A CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. The province’s two major political dynasties today – Guicos and Espinos – are gearing up for a major showdown with their “loyalists” in tow.

It’s taking shape as a “winner-take-all” between political giants. It’s a battle royale never seen in Pangasinan. Both are undeniably wealthy, whose rise to political power were earned from within, not through links to Malacañang Palace.

Unlike the Espinos that have long-established family members in various local posts, the Guicos are definitely moving in fast to match their influence.

Amid the show of force in the gubernatorial race, taking center stage in the discussion is the fate of both their past and present allies and loyalists of both camps. It is they who will affirm and confirm who the stronger team is.

There will be loyalty tests at the Capitol, that’s for certain.
Expect the current casual and job order employees to man the front lines while those whom they replaced are expected to do all to regain their old posts.

So, this will not simply be a face-off between two young ambitious politicians, Guv Monmon and Guv Pogi. It will be a total war between their respective “armies”.

The new PNP provincial director, P/Col. Rollyfer Capoquian was right to reshuffle town and city police chiefs to preempt alliances for or against Espino and Guico loyalists among them. After all, their future positions in Pangasinan will depend heavily on who they secretly supported.

Mr. Capoquian is from Zamboanga City.

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