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Written by  The Bohol Chronicle
Monday, 13 August 2012 11:03

www.boholchronicle.com.ph

It is a tight timetable from here on for the New Bohol Airport in Panglao to commence its bidding and construction phase, notably with the midterm elections just months away.



First District Rep. Rene Relampagos told “Inyong Alagad” of dyRD on Monday that he expects the multi-billion project to be awarded to a winning bidder by the third quarter of 2013, right after the polls in May.



Although the solon have suggested to the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), the implementing agency of the new airport, that the project be undertaken through local funding instead of an Official Development Assistance (ODA), Sec. Mar Roxas has prevailed that no more changes should be made on the current project design approved by the NEDA (National Economic Development Authority).



“We have the commitment of the DOTC, after President Aquino highlighted the New Bohol Airport among his priority projects that should be completed within his term,” Relampagos added.



Presently, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) is validating the details of the project and may soon submit its report to the DOTC to give the green light for its pre-bidding stage.



Relampagos assured that the allotted P1.2-billion, included in the General Appropriations Act, will not be wasted and recycled back to the general fund of the national treasury, instead the amount will be utilized for the project preparatory development activities, not for the airport construction itself, but for the acquisition of lots for the right of way and other engineering studies.



The airport will follow strict bidding guidelines which will draw international contractors who are keen on the project.



If awarded to a winning bidder by the third quarter of next year, the solon said the construction phase could be completed in a period of 2 years.

    Written by  The Bohol Chronicle
    Monday, 13 August 2012 11:02


Now that the battle lines have been drawn, First District Representative Rene Relampagos fires away at Tagbilaran City Mayor Dan Lim, in what could be a telling preview of their one-on-one match in next year’s polls.

Relampagos, often at the receiving end of the city mayor’s blistering tirades, returned the favor in an interview on Monday over Station dyRD’s top-rated “Inyong Alagad”.

Mincing no words, the solon said Mayor Lim, who is fond of criticizing senior provincial officials, is doing a “poor job” as city chief executive.

“Tagbilaran has been lagging behind in growth and development for the past eight years of Lim’s administration. The mayor does his job through words rather than action,” Relampagos stressed.

Relampagos scored the “prevailing ill conditions” of the city â€" the worst road condition in years, garbage and drainage issues, lack of transparency and the widespread perception of financial mismanagement at City Hall, harassment of businessmen and insensitivity to the constituency.

“He (Mayor Lim) has succeeded in tarnishing the image of Tagbilaran as a ‘city of friendship’ and as the province’s tourism gateway,” the solon added.

Reiterating his support to the candidacy of his brother-in-law, Atty. Agustinus “Dodong” Gonzaga for city mayor, Relampagos said Tagbilaran needs a transition leader who possess the “maturity to resuscitate an ailing city”.

Relampagos has openly declared his endorsement of Gonzaga and vice mayoralty running mate, Jose Antonio Veloso, saying that the tandem possesses competence, experience and access to the present national leadership.

“What we need is a City Hall that involves the barangays and purok levels in consultative, participative public administration,” he added.

“A public mandate is never meant to harass or frustrate because a government can fail when people submit out of fear, in despair,” he said.

The solon said many opportunities have been missed by the city government to funnel in much-needed funding for projects since the present city mayor would not cooperate with senior officials, specifically the governor and congressman.

Relampagos said he shares the frustration of not just city residents but also those who are affected by poor governance in the city.

The solon further said the people of Tagbilaran need to capitalize on the fact that the governor and himself as congressman have direct access to Malacañang.

“To be propelled to its deserved development height, the city has to have a credible team of leaders who can effectively work and relate with the governor and congressman on support for needed projects,” Relampagos said.

Although Mayor Lim has declared in past media interviews that he is not seeking a higher position in the May 2013 elections, his sorties in the towns of the First District have become more frequent, and his caucuses indicate that he is out to challenge Relampagos for the Congress seat.

Lim has forged a local alliance with Second District Representative Erico Aumentado pushing Carmen Mayor Conchito Delos Reyes as their gubernatorial bet in the coming polls.

The group claims to have sealed the endorsement of Vice President Jejomar Binay’s United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).