No relief seen in row between Panlilio, Pampanga officials

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – The rift between Gov. Eddie Panlilio and other elected local officials still sees no relief in the provincial horizon.

Panlilio said here yesterday he is not disturbed by allegations that local projects and purchases are being delayed by his low price ceilings imposed during biddings for them.

Panlilio told The Star he will insist on “reasonable” profit for those dealing with the provincial government, even if this would mean delays in the implementation of local projects.

This, even as Vice Gov. Joseller Guiao expressed anew his laments that despite the approval of a P1.1 billion budget for this year, the implementation of projects and purchases of needed items continue to be delayed.

He said infrastructure projects and medicine purchases for district hospitals are among those adversely affected by Panlilio’s policies on bidding parameters.

“In many cases, no one participates in the bidding because the ceiling for bids is too low. It runs counter to the concept of profit in any legitimate business enterprise,” Guiao said.

But Panlilio said he will not yield to any pressure to increase price ceilings on projects and purchases, including the procurement of medicines, even as he admitted lack of bidders for some projects.

“I was told that before, projects were done and then biddings were held later,” the governor said, lamenting that some businessmen dealing with government have become accustomed to too much profit.

While also admitting that the increase in the price of commodities have caught up with the cost of construction materials, Panlilio said that “at least the cash for them remains intact.”

Further, judges of the regional trial court here are inhibiting themselves from handling a case filed Panlilio against the implementation of the provincial board’s ordinance on lahar sand quarrying operations in this province.

Some three weeks ago, Panlilio petitioned the RTC here to issue a temporary restraining order against provincial board resolution No. 176 which he also sought to be declared illegal.

“I can’t blame them (judges) because the case is expected to be highly politically charged,” Panlilio said.

The ordinance was initially endorsed by the Pampanga Mayors’ League whose president, Lubao Mayor Dennis Pineda, is the son of former provincial board member Lilia Pineda. Mrs. Pineda has a pending electoral case against Panlilio who defeated her in the gubernatorial polls in May last year.