Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III chided Medellin Mayor Ricardo Ramirez for stopping the remittance of taxes and other amounts to the provincial government.
He described his staunch critic as one “lacking in attention” and “impatient.”
In an interview yesterday, Davide said the requested funds for the repair of the provincial roads and bridges in north Cebu were already included in the Capitol’s P12.2 billion rehabilitation plan.
Since only a third of the amount has been downloaded to the regional line agencies, the province cannot yet act on the rehabilitation of the structures, he explained.
“He is very impatient. He wants everything to be done right away. He just lacks attention. That’s why he keeps on complaining,” the governor said.
Ramirez on Friday ordered Medellin municipal treasurer Ruth Gillamac to hold off any remittances due to the Province of Cebu “until such time that they take cognizance of their obligation to repair and rehabilitate the provincial roads and bridges” in the town.
The mayor was referring to the Dugusungan Bridge, the longest bridge in town linking barangays Poblacion and Caputatan Sur, which sustained damage after several typhoons battered the province.
Ramirez, who is affiliated with the One Cebu Party of former governor Gwendolyn Garcia, said that “it’s about time the province is also sanctioned for turning a blind eye on the sorry state of their roads and bridges.”
The heated exchange of words between the two officials can be traced last year when Ramirez criticized the Davide administration following supertyphoon “Yolanda” for the disparity in the relief goods given by the province to Medellin and other towns allied with the Liberal Party (LP).
Davide said the delay in the repairs of the structures is not a valid reason for the town to hold their remittances to the province because it is required under the law.
“You cannot impose that on the provincial government. That is their responsibility, their obligation under the law,” explained Davide.
Asked if the province will file a mandamus case against Ramirez, Davide responded, “We’ll see.”
Municipalities in the country are required to remit 20 percent of their real property tax collection to their respective provinces.
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