ILOILO – The plan of the municipal government of Santa Barbara to buy a private lot worth P26 million did not sit well with some Sangguniang Bayan (SB) members.
During the SB’s regular session yesterday, Larry Deatras, president of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC), together with SB members Ramon Sodusta, Clyde Octaviano and Isabelo Maquino, expressed their apprehension to the proposed procurement.
The property is a one-hectare lot in Barangay Agutayan where the planned slaughterhouse would be constructed.
The four officials questioned the passage of a resolution introduced by SB member Tim Padilla.
The measure gave Mayor Rema Somo an authority to “contract to sell” to buy the Barangay Agutayan property.
Deatras, who delivered a privileged speech on Wednesday, raised the following issues:
* there was no memorandum of agreement between the SP and the municipal government relative to the proposed procurement
* requisites for the processing of acquisition of private properties involving the municipal government were not followed
* there was a public consultation but no public hearing
* the land title presented to the SB had a missing back page that may show the annotation of the real status of the property
* the resolution was pushed through despite the opposition of residents against the project
* the private lot is situated in a residential area
Deatras also said the municipal government in 2013 already acquired a P2.6-million property in Barangay Pungsod supposedly for a slaughterhouse.
“Tulad mabakal naman sila sang bag-o nga wala mag–agi sa council. Amo dya ginreklamo namon,” the ABC president added.
Panay News tried to reach Padilla and Somo for comment but have yet to reply as of press time.
Meanwhile, Deatras suggested the fund for the procurement of the property should instead be realigned to the acquisition of coronavirus vaccines./PN
