City Vice Mayor Jose Antonio Veloso yesterday denied allegations of grandstanding in raising queries regarding the plan of the city government to avail of a P500 million to P1 billion loan with the Develop-ment Bank of the Philippines (DBP).The statement surfaced after City Mayor Dan Lim, in his letter dated August 5, 2008, stated that "I have no intention of allowing it to be used for political grandstanding by those who want to benefit from it at the expense of the city's development."
Veloso admitted he called the bank only after receiving the letter of City Mayor Dan Lim withdrawing his earlier intentions to get the authority from the Sangguniang Panlungsod regarding the move to avail of a loan.
The mayor's letter triggered him to inquire from the bank even as he scheduled the matter for discussion by the lawmakers during their next regular session."Is there something wrong if I call the bank for inquiry?" Veloso stressed.
In fact, Veloso stressed that the mayor has to clarify his "real intention" since in his second letter dated August 5, 2008, he stated that he was "merely asking for a confirmation of that previous authority out of respect for this august body."
Veloso explained that it could not just be a confirmation of the previous authority because what the 9th Sanggunian approved was for the P630 million loan originally intended for the New Growth Center which the mayor himself has amended.
The vice mayor said that since the new loan to be availed was for another purpose which was for land acquisition for the centralized waste water treatment facility and the integrated solid waste management facility, then the city SP has to sit down again to discuss the matter.
"It won't just be a mere confirmation of the previous authority," he explained.
The purpose of the bigger loan brings the reason why further discussion was necessary before giving the authority to the mayor especially that the loan would allow the city government for a credit line up to P1 billion.
With such huge amount, it becomes necessary to discuss the details of the loan, the vice mayor emphasized.
However, he was told by the local DBP, that the Cebu regional office will not give the details of the loan upon instructions from City Budget Officer Rose Palma.
He likewise reacted on comments of Mayor Lim stating that the vice mayor is fond of questioning while on popular undertakings, he (Veloso) simply takes a ride.
He took exception on this comment saying he is not focused on grabbing credits on his programs and advocacies. In fact, he did not make any publicity that he sponsored the ordinance of the "Botika sa Katawhan" which is now one of the flagship projects of Lim.
He likewise sponsored the ordinance of the Blue Card medical program which started during the term of then Vice Mayor Jaz Montes where he served as chairman of the SP committee on health.
"If I was fond of grandstanding, then I could have trumpeted this long before," he said.
TRANSPARENCY?
Vice Mayor Veloso asked why the mayor always gets irk whenever questions are raised for clarifications.
"If all intentions are for the good of the city, then why will it generate irritation whenever we inquire facts on matters affecting the city governance," Veloso stressed.
He again questioned Lim's policy of letting department heads ask permission first from the mayor's office whenever the lawmakers would wish to invite them for clarifications and queries.
"Does the city law-making body do not have the right to invite department heads to shed light on certain matters which needs clarification?" he asked while citing the repeated pledge of Mayor Lim on transparency in governance.
Veloso reminded the mayor that he will loose nothing if he will allow the SP to inquire on matters since it is only through a "well informed law- making body that objectives of programs can be properly appreciated."
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