President Benigno Aquino in a speech at the Equipment Management Division of the DPWH 7 Monday morning. (CDN PHOTO/ JOSE SANTINO BUNACHITA)
President Benigno Aquino III denied shortchanging Cebu in terms of infrastructure projects.
In a speech at the Equipment Management Division of the DPWH 7 Monday morning, the president reported the billions of projects that have been poured in the region.
“Ang nailaan po nating pondo para sa programang pang-imprastruktura dito sa Cebu, mula 2011 hanggang sa kasalukuyan, pumalo na po sa mahigit P22.848 billion. Ito po ba ang tinatawag nilang itinaboy at hindi tinutukan ang Cebu?” Aquino said.
“Siguro ho, sa kababayan nating itong hindi nakakakita na nangyayari at hindi nagbabasa ng datos, baka dapat ambagan ko siya ng bagong salamin para makita niya. Problema lang po, ‘yung taong nagbubulag-bulagan, maski gaano kagandang salamin ibigay natin, wala pa ring makikita,” he added.
His response came a day after Vice President Jejomar Binay, who’s also in Cebu, chided his administration for not giving Cebu enough attention. Binay made the statement in a news conference upon his arrival last Sunday, August 23.
Before his speech at the DPWH, Aquino conducted a windshield inspection of two major projects in Cebu right after his arrival — the Mactan Corcumferential Road project and the S. Osmena road concreting project.
Aquino noted that Cebu has become “mas maginhawa” (more progressive).
DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson, in a project briefing he personally gave to the president, said of the P42 billion worth of infrastructure projects in region 7 from 2010 to 2015, more than half or around P23 billion went to Cebu province.
In his opening speech, Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III said the DPWH’s report on the projects will dispel the criticisms against the president for not attending to Cebu’s infrastructure needs.
“We know deep in our hearts that you love Cebu and you’ve poured billions in infrastructure projects for Cebu’s development,” Davide told the president.
Aside from Davide, other Liberal Party allies who were present this morning were 4th district Rep. Benhur Salimbangon, Cebu City north dist Rep. Raul Del Mar, Cebu City south district Rep. Bebot Abellanosa, Mandaue Mayor Jonas Cortes, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza and Consolacion mayor Teresa Alegado.