Gwen shrugs off Sonny's criticism

CEBU, Philippines – Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia dismissed the criticism of former senator John Henry “Sonny” Osmeña two days after she delivered her State of the Province Address.

“Si Sonny? Tse na lang, manash. S ka lang huwag mong masyadong dibdibin ‘day, remember mga wrinkles, kadiri. Mao ra to,” Garcia said.

In a statement, Osmeña said the P20-billion fund, which Garcia claimed have built up is P20 billion worth of services denied to two and a half million people in over a thousand barangays.

The former senator said that the government exists to serve the people, not to function as a profit-motivated bank.

Osmeña said the amount could have been used to improve and maintain district hospitals and other infrastructure, provide employment to the jobless, protect the environment and provide development for farmers and fisherfolk.

Garcia, however, reminded the former senator of the time when he told opposition members in Cebu “pagpuasa mo.”

“Kahinumdum ka sa una nga miingon ka nga magpuasa mo? Wa gyud na nako buhata. Wa gyud nagpuasa ang mga Sugbuanon,” Garcia said.

In a time of economic crisis, the province remains debt-free, Garcia said during her SOPA last Friday night.

As of Dec. 31, 2008, Cebu province has P20 billion in assets, a 17-percent increase from last year. Gross income also reportedly went up to P1.7 billion.

With the passage of the Provincial Revenue Code of 2008, the provincial government collected a total of P153 million in taxes from January to June 2009 —an increase of 27 percent more from the collection made during the same period last year.

“The province continues to move forward. We have solid accomplishment because that’s what we owe to our people. We take our responsibility seriously,” the governor added. — Garry B. Lao/BRP (THE FREEMAN)