Romero asks Manay Gina for additional funds

Swanky Pink Colored Fish Market: Pangasinan Rep. Gina de Venecia (2nd from right) graced the inauguration of the P20 million fish market located at the public market in Mangaldan, Pangasinan. She got the fund from her P70 million Countryside Development Fund. From Left: Mangaldan Mayor Herminio Romero, former Speaker Joe de Venecia, Rep. de Venecia, and Mangaldan Vice Mayor Berex Abalos

By MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA
 
MANGALDAN – Mayor Herminio Romero appealed to Rep. Gina de Venecia to give this town additional funds to complete the construction of the new public market and the Macario Ydia Development Center.
He hoped that Rep, de Venecia will prioritize the projects because of the renewed bullish business atmosphere that permeates here after the public market was gutted by fire in 2009.
Romero said P80 million has been used already to bankroll the construction of the two-storey edifice, P60 million of which came from a loan this town obtained from Land Bank of the Philippines while the P20 million came from the Priority Development Assistance Fund of de Venecia.
A staff of the mayor who asked anonymity said this town needs another P20 million from the PDAF of the lady solon.
He said although de Venecia has pledged it already to Romero, the mayor wanted it immediately so he could finish the construction of the market.
“Dito sa Mangaldan, pagdating ng election pinaka-malaki na boto na ibinibigay namin dito kay Manay,” he declared hoping this loyal gesture could prompt de Venecia to release immediately the requested amount.
Because of scarcity of funds source from the government, Romero said public officials are in a quandary looking for funds just to bankroll the repair of their offices in the municipal hall.
“Some of them resort into borrowing from government banks,” he said.
He explained that the fund he needs from the solon is a necessity because once the new market becomes operational, there would be more jobs for his constituents.
Romero said local revenues of the town increase yearly because of the confidence of customers and traders.
He said that collection in 2009, 2010, 2011 increased by P4 million, P5.5Million, and P7.3Million, respectively.
De Venecia is on a construction binge in the 4th Congressional District with hundreds of millions of funds she chalked up through her initiatives and connection with national officials.
Although Mayor Benjamin S. Lim of Dagupan City is not a political ally of de Venecia, the city is a beneficiary of de Venecia’s P200 million public works funds for upgrading of concrete roads and re-construction of drainage systems in six villages of the city.