Estrada declines honors from Lilo-an

CEBU, Philippines - The Municipality of Lilo-an would have honored former president Joseph “Erap” Estrada by naming their new public market after him and former mayor Panphil Frasco.

But the former president who was earlier convicted of plunder but later pardoned by then president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, declined the honors given to him by Mayor Vincent Franco “Duke” Frasco.

Nevertheless, he was given the honor to lead the inauguration of the P60 million public market which is now known as the Lilo-an Public Market instead of the Estrada-Frasco Public Market.

Estrada was joined by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia in the inauguration of the new market and three other projects in the municipality.

Garcia, in her speech, said the people of Lilo-an will forever remember Estrada because of the beautiful market which she said the former president was instrumental for its construction.

“The people of Lilo-an will never forget you, Mr. President. Everytime they buy a kilo of fish and meat they will remember that this beautiful market came to be because of your great help,” Garcia said.

Mayor Frasco explained that Lilo-an wanted to honor Estrada for his help in making the project a reality. The project started during the term of Frasco’s father, who would have shared the same honor with the former president.

However because of Estrada’s request to remove his name from the market the Frasco family also decided to take off the name of the former mayor. Hence the market will be known as the Lilo-an Public Market.  

In his speech, Frasco quoted Estrada as saying to him, “public service should be done in a way where people don’t realize you’re doing it for popularity but for service.”

Admitting to have learned a lesson from the former president, Frasco said that he heeded the request that is something worth.

Estrada through Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile gave the Special Allotment Release Order in the amount of P20 million during the wedding day of Frasco to Garcia’s daughter, lawyer Cristina Garcia, on August 8, 2009.

Estrada’s son, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada also gave another P20 million for the public market.

Gov. Garcia provided the P7 million for the wide access road from the national highway to the new public market which is known as the Governor’s Boulevard.

“This morning, we celebrate good governance and solid performance pinaagi sa giinugura-han nga mga proyekto,” Garcia said.

Lilo-an also has now a lying-in facility that could accommodate 12 patients with emergency room, operating room and a pharmacy offering free services to constituents.

Garcia promised to provide the medical equipments while Estrada promised to give an ambulance.

Also inaugurated yesterday was the new Sangguniang Bayan Session Hall which Garcia described it as “so tastefully and so elegantly done.”

“Looking at all of these, ako isip inahan sa lalawigan sa Sugbo igo lamang nga makabati og daku kaayong garbo. Misulbong ang garbo sa akong ka-singkasing,” Garcia said.

Garcia also turned over yesterday to Frasco the check amounting to P5 million she promised for the completion of the Panphil B. Frasco Gym. Estrada assured to come back as soon as the gym is to be inaugurated.

Frasco said that the completion of new public market and the gym are the two major projects he promised during his first term in 2007.

Now he is focusing on the basic services his constituents look after for in his second term. (THE FREEMAN)