PB gives Capitol rights

The Cebu Provincial Board approved an ordinance authorizing the Provincial Government to loan P200 million to finance the acquisition of light and heavy equipment.

With the approval of the ordinance yesterday, the Cebu Provincial Government can formally reapply for a loan before the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP).

Of the 12 board members who were present during the PB’s regular session yesterday, only PB Member Raul Bacaltos voted against the approval of the ordinance.

Those who voted for the approval of the ordinance were Jose Mari Salvador, Miguel Antonio Magpale, Glenn Bercede, Thadeo Jovito Ouano, Horacio Franco III, Jude Thaddeus Sybico, Christopher Baricuatro, Jerome Christian Librando and ex-officio officers Celestino “Tining” Martinez III and Earl Tidy Oyas.

Provincial Board Members Yolanda Daan, Edsel Galeos, Victoria Toribio, Alex Binghay and Sun Shimura were absent during yesterday’s session.

The absence of five board members was timely as majority of them, including Bacaltos, initially voted against the approval of a proposed ordinance that would give authority to Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III to sign the contract between the Province of Cebu and the joint venture between ConEquip Philippines, RDAK Philippines.

Both firms were chosen by the Provincial Bids and Awards Committee as the bidder with the single calculated and responsive bid amounting to P227.4 million during the opening of bids on Nov. 25, 2016.

Days after the approval, at least 15 Capitol officials, including Davide, Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale and eight board members who voted to award the project and BAC officials, three suppliers and businessman Crisologo Saavedra were sued before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas by an anonymous complainant. /