CHINA ‘OVER-DESIGNED’ PROPOSED BRIDGES
THE PROVINCIAL government of Guimaras is insisting on conducting COVID-19 rapid test on people entering the island province even if no less than the Department of Health has said such test is not reliable due to its high cases of false negative and false positive results.
Defending its plan, the Guimaras provincial government says the rapid test is not for diagnostic purposes but for “surveillance” So it could determine
the prevalence of COVID-19 in Guimaras. Such reasoning, however, defies logic. How can the rapid test competently tell the provincial government about the prevalence of COVID-19 in Guimaras when, in the first place, its test results are not reliable? Do you agree, Mayor Eugene? Itik “dies-dies” laughing! CHINA, which conducted a feasibility study on the proposed Panay-Guimaras- Negros bridge but later balked at financing the project, overdesigned it, according to Ilonggo senator Frank. Just how overdesigned is it? The Chinese proposed to build a four-lane highway for a 32-km bridge. According to Senator Frank, however, the prevailing traffic situation does not justify a four-lane highway.
“It is very expensive. Hopefully we can review the design which will make it more feasible in terms of internal economic rate of return,” says Senator Frank. “I found the bridge really over-designed and dictated by the funder so that there will be more debt for the project.”
China Thankfully, China backed out from the project. Good riddance. Gusto guro sang malubong ang Pilipinas sang utang sa ila. Tonto! The 32-km Panay-Guimaras-Negros bridge is composed of two phases: the Panay-Guimaras bridge which totals 13kms and the Guimaras-Negros at 19.37kms
The Philippine government is now looking at the Korean Eximbank to finance the project. South Korea is a more reliable partner. It is also the one financing the ongoing construction of the Jalaur mega dam in Calinog, Iloilo at very friendly loan terms to the Philippine government. Hopefully, Panay-Guimaras-Negros bridge. Say mo, Gov. Sam?
madayun gid ang Gov. Bong “dies-dies” smiling. FROM being the chief of the Mambusao District Hospital, Dr. Florencio Luching was suddenly reassigned to the Roxas Memorial Provincial Hospital as coordinator of the Out-Patient Department. Why? The doctor has no clue whatsoever. He simply received a memo from Provincial Administrator Edwin Chinel Monares on Oct. 13 about the transfer. There was no explanation in the memo. Will Gov. Esteban Evan Contreras care to explain to Dr. Luching? The new chief of the Mambusao District Hospital is Dr. Ian Arcega. There were speculations that the transfer may have something to do with a pregnant woman. Was she really refused admission by the hospital?
According to our Deep Throat, however, one municipal mayor is also not a fan of Doctor Luching for some unclear reasons.
Who is this mayor, and how influential is this local official in the provincial capitol? Ex-guv Tony “dies-dies” laughing! THE BACOLOD City consumers’ group Amlig Tubig is seeking from the court a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) between the Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa) and private water supplier Prime Water.
Under the JVA, Prime Water will supply Baciwa with water. The agreement is supposed to ensure a clean, steady and reliable supply and distribution of water in the City of Smiles.
But Amlig Tubig has reservations about the JVA. It has a lot of questions, foremost of which is the cost of water. Will it be affordable to consumers? Will there be an increase in rates? Say Atty. Dilag? The JVA is scheduled to take effect by Nov. 1. Will Amlig Tubig succeed in securing a TRO? Councilor Jun Gamboa “dies-dies” laughing! CALLS are getting louder to exempt from RT-PCR test all tourists from anywhere in Western Visayas wanting to enter Boracay Island.
Malay, Aklan’s Mayor Frolibar Bautista supports such call, too. After all, there are no more COVID travel restrictions within the region.
Boracay reopened to tourists from other parts of the country on Oct. 1 but up to now, very few tourists have visited it.
Many Western Visayans actually want to have a vacation in Boracay Island but they are turned off by the steep RT-PCR test requirement. They say the cost of the test is already good for two days and two nights of stay in a hotel there.
It must be noted that when Boracay first opened to tourists from across Western Visayas in September, an RT-PCR test was not a requirement. Now, it is a must.
Right now, tourism-related travel/leisure is not an essential activity. If we make it costlier and harder for tourists to visit Boracay, they will never come. Say Aklan provincial administrator Selwyn Ibarreta? Ciceron “dies-dies” laughing!