Gullas defends wife, public park

CEBU, Philippines - First district Rep. Eduardo R. Gullas dismissed criticisms of his wife’s involvement in the construction of Talisay City’s public park, saying she should be appreciated instead for giving her work for free.

“Rather than be criticized, I think she should be praised because she’s helping Talisay at no cost. Gratis et amore,” said Gullas. He said his wife, Norma or “Mingming,” being the concept designer of the project, goes to the site every Saturday and Sunday even if it rains just to see if everything is going as planned.

Gullas said if Mingming’s name is in the project tarpaulin posted just across from the Talisay City Public Park, she should not be blamed as it was not her idea to put her name there.

The Talisay City Government received criticisms for its public park constructed just in front of the City Hall. Critics said that while the city can splurge millions of pesos for a grand park, it has no money for its drainage system, which could have solved the flooding problem. Critics also wondered what was Norma Gullas’ hand in the project, as her name was part of the huge project tarpaulin.

In her defense, Gullas said it was his wife who conceptualized the park, being like a huge nipa hut, and she did this for free. He could not say how much was the project cost as it was the Department of Public Works and Highway’s second engineering district that implemented it. He, however,

admitted sourcing out P10 million as its initial funds.

The park, which was started early this year, has a grand fountain in the center and horse statues by the gate. It reportedly was patterned from a Johannesburg park.  (FREEMAN)