SB quells Cortes-BWUI water deal

CORTES, BOHOL, Philippines  — The water deal between this municipality and the Bohol Water Utilities Incorporated (BWUI) to provide Tagbilaran City residents with potable water has broadened fraction and political friction between the once tandem of the mayor and vice-mayor.

On Friday's special session of the Sangguniang Bayan presided over by Vice-Mayor Danilo Montero, the SB passed twin Resolutions that certainly won't make Mayor Apolinaria Balistoy and BWUI pleased.

The passage of the resolutions however did not came easy as the debate went on for more than an hour after some Sanggunian members questioned why there was a special session when they were not officially informed about it.

The first unnumbered Resolution sponsored by Kagawad Lynn Iven P. Lim has rescinded the "authority given to the Municipal Mayor Engr. Apolinaria H. Balistoy, Ph. D. to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with BWUI."

The second Resolution sponsored by Kagawad Celerino T. Jubac, Jr. is putting into official record the "fact that some SB members submitted letter-complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman requesting an investigation of possible graft and corrupt practices and possible criminal offenses of the municipal mayor and SB member Hon. Junn Eckart Balistoy in the conduct of their official functions." Junn Eckart Balistoy is the son of the mayor.

Montero banged the gavel to "divide the house" to give all parties the time to express their respective positions whether they are for or against the twin resolutions during the session attended by mostly barangay captains who were invited by the presiding officer.

Labor, municipal president of Liga ng mga Barangay, pointed out that revoking the said authority, which was already approved, is untimely and "this is not the proper place but the court." He said that is why the barangay captains are invited. Labor ran against Montero for vice-mayor last elections but was defeated. Montero, the runningmate of Mayor Balistoy, said he made it by just almost 300 votes despite his being a neophyte in politics.

De la Torre retorted over Labor's contention, saying "we have the right to revoke."

For his part, Balistoy explained that SB was not kept in the dark on the water project because BWUI has already presented it to them contrary to De la Torre's allegation.

But Lim maintained that the mayor failed to furnish the SB with the hard copies of the MOA as she had promised.

As if to delay the first Resolution's approval, Balistoy hinted to defer it and lay it on the table but to no avail.

Montero first attempted to quash the said authority given to the mayor last year but failed.

What prompted the SB members to revoke the said authority was the mere failure of the mayor to submit the draft MOA as promised by the latter, said Montero.

Montero and the six councilors voting to nullify the said authority wanted very much the copy of the draft MOA so that they can study and scrutinize it and be able to propose counter proposals.

He said they have been waiting for the copy of the MOA for so long since they approved the said authority last year, but to no avail until they only learned that the MOA is already signed by Mayor Balistoy without them knowing.

Cepe said he is against the proposed price of P0.25 per cubic meter in the water deal because it is unreasonable for Cortes townsfolk.

Montero confirmed that indeed there was no public consultation on the proposed water project.

Engr. Emigdio Acierto, consultant of BWUI, said in interview in his Manga residence, he expected all along the outcome of the water deal which appeared to be unfavorable to the company.

He did not give further statements on what course of action the company will take after the revocation of the mayor's authority to enter into a MOA with BWUI. (FREEMAN)