Gullas tells Carcar leaders to unite for 2013 elections

CEBU, Philippines - In his speech Thursday night during the culmination of Carcar City's 4th Charter Day celebration at the city hall grounds, first district Rep. Eduardo Gullas appealed to officials of Carcar City to stand united for the 2013 elections.

"Akong hangyoon ang mga opisyales sa Carcar City nga magkahiusa, nga adunay unity ticket sa umaabot nga 2013 elections. Kalimtan na ang politika ug ipadayon ang unity alang sa kalambuan sa atong syudad," Gullas told the audience.

Gullas delivered his speech shortly after Mayor Nicepuro Apura, Vice Mayor Patrick Barcenas, and the rest of the councilors rendered a dance number before thousands of Carcar residents. Apura and Barcenas, a former mayor, belonged to different parties in the May 2010 elections, although the two men had Gullas' Alayon Party's support.

Gullas however did not say who among Apura and Barcenas should become the mayoral candidate if in case they would run in the same ticket.

For his part, Apura said although they belonged to different parties in the last elections, the council, which is led by Barcenas being the vice mayor, is supportive of his projects.

And among these projects, Apura highlighted in his state of the city address also last Thursday night, is the start of the construction of the multi-million diversion road which is expected to decongest the traffic in this fledgling city.

Apura however assured there won't be a single centuries-old Acacia tree that will be cut in the process as feared by many.

"Na-clear na nato ang diversion road, and sigurado gyud nga way bisag usa ka karaang kahoy ang maputol," Apura said.

The first phase of the project, which will cost the city P50 million, will start in barangay Poblacion II cutting through about 1.29 hectares of private properties, which Apura said have already been acquired by the government.

The road will then meet the old provincial highway, the one that leads to Barili town.

Apura said no target date for the infrastructure to be completed has been set.

He however assured that the city has already allocated a budget despite its reduction of internal revenue allotment, which is now down to less than P100 million annually from P273 million in 2008.

The reduction came following the Supreme Court's November 2008 decision declaring Carcar and the rest of the 15 towns' City Laws unconstitutional.

The mayor is however hopeful that the provincial government will help them with it especially that it was the Regional Development Council in the early 2000 that proposed for the creation of a diversion road within Carcar.

"Di na ta makapaabot so mao ning giunhan nato, basin nalang maluoy sila ug tabangan ta," said Apura.

After the first phase shall have been completed, the next phase shall start.  (FREEMAN)