NORDIS WEEKLY
January 22, 2006

 

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Baguio council demands identity of Burnham lighting donor

BAGUIO CITY (Jan. 16) — City councilors here are still facing a blank wall over the identity of the donor of the newly installed P4 million lighting at Burnham Park after Mayor Braulio Yaranon refused to disclose.

In a regular session of the city council last Monday, Engineer Leo Bernardez, Jr., director of the City Engineers’ Office said that he did not know who the donor was and that only the mayor knew it.

Some speculations were brought out but were not proven true. Councilor Perlita Chan-Rondez revealed that in one instance, someone said that the donor was Smart Communications. Another councilor also said that there was a rumor that it was an advertising agency. However, both were not confirmed.

Councilor Daniel Farinas on the other hand said the mayor should be transparent and should tell the council, especially the public the identity of the donor. He explained that whatever accident happens due to the lighting, the city government be liable. Likewise, the city will also pay the electric consumption, and these give the councilors enough reasons to demand transparency from the mayor about the issue.

Farinas added that in the law, such issue is not considered a donation since there have been no acceptance on behalf of the city council. It was as well doubtful since even the city engineer does not know who the donor was. He further questioned why the issue came only to the council’s knowledge after the project was installed.

However, according to some members like Councilors Galo Weygan, Faustino Olowan and Jose Molintas, the identity of the donor is not an issue, instead, the city should be grateful because the lighting is for the advantage of the constituents and for the security of Burnham Park.

On the other hand, the council approved a budget of P1.9 million for the recently finished rehabilitation of the streetlamps in Burnham Park. # Florence L. Batawang and Angely Lubo/ UP Interns for NORDIS with reports from Rowena Caccam/DzEQ

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