Aquino brags about multi-billion-peso projects for Cebu

PRESIDENT Aquino yesterday  trumpeted the various multi-billion-peso projects his administration has delivered to the Cebuanos to contradict his critics’ claim that he has done nothing for Cebu.

The President said the completion of the Mactan Island Circumferential Road, the rehabilitation of the Sergio Osmeña Boulevard, the construction of the tunnel underpass and several road sections of the Cebu South Coastal Road, and the P17.5-billion expansion of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport were just some of the many projects credited to his administration.

For the MCIA project alone, the President said the construction of a new passenger terminal would mean raising the airport’s annual passenger capacity from 4 million to 15 million.

These projects, he said, were on top of the P32-billion flood control projects and other infrastructure projects in the province; the P856.43 million for port and airport development; and the P1.61 million for irrigation and farm-to-market roads for the agriculture sector.

The President said that it was also through his administration’s effort that Cebu City would soon benefit from the P10-billion Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project.

“Kaya may mga ibang nagsasabi kung pinabayaan ba ng Daang Matuwid ang Cebu. Ang sagot ko, kayo na mga boss ko dito sa Cebu ang sumagot kung sino ang nagpabaya at kanino,” said Mr. Aquino before a crowd of about 6,000 gathered yesterday inside the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex (MCCSC).
(That’s why, for those who said that the Daang Matuwid has neglected Cebu, my answer is, you the Cebuanos should answer who neglected who.)

“Mga boss, ang mga ni-review ko po ang mga nagawa sa inyong probinsya. Ang sabi ko, ibang klaseng pagtutok at pagmamahal talaga ang ipinakita ng Daang Matuwid sa Cebu,” the President added.
(My bosses, what I reviewed are what we have done for Cebu province. What  I can say is that the Daang Matuwid  has paid extra attention to and love for the Cebuanos.)

In contrast, Mr. Aquino highlighted the controversial lampposts put up along the North Reclamation Area (NRA) in Mandaue City as proof of a corrupt practice that went against the “Daang Matuwid” (straight path) policies that his administration stood for.

The President was referring to the 1,800 China-made lampposts, which were installed along Ouano Avenue in Mandaue City as part of the preparations for the 12th Asean Summit in 2007,  which were later found to be grossly overpriced.

The President was in Cebu to lead the Liberal Party (LP) rally at MCCSC where he endorsed the party’s national and local candidates, led by LP standard-bearer Mar Roxas and his running mate, Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo.

Prior to the rally, the President  led the turnover the P42-million school building at the Guadalupe Elementary School in Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City, where he lauded the state-owned Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) for spending billions of pesos in school buildings in the country.

In his speech, Mr. Aquino could not help but compare the Pagcor during the administration of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and the Pagcor under his administration.

“P1 billion divided by P40 million for each classroom? The calculator says 25,” he said.

“Ibig sabihin po, 25 ganitong klaseng school buildings ang puwede pang pakinabangan ng ating kabataan kung inilagay dito imbis na sa kapeng hindi natin alam kung may uminom. (This means 25 school buildings of this kind which our youth could use if the funds were allocated here instead of the purchase of coffee when we did not even know if someone was drinking it),” he said.

During his State of the Nation Address (Sona) in 2011,  Aquino dropped a bombshell and exposed the purchase of P1 billion worth of coffee to perk up casino patrons in the span of 10 years.