Merrera, Rosario Open for Collaboration

 Despite Brewing Tensions on Garbage Funding

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

BINMALEY, Pangasinan – The brewing tension between the mayor and the vice mayor here is not indefinite as both are open to collaborate for the good of this coastal town.

Former mayor and the present vice mayor Sam Rosario told the solons of the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) in one of their recent sessions that he was willing to support any programs of Mayor Pete Merrera.

Rosario is allied with nine out of the ten members of lawmakers in the SB.

SCHISM? Binmaley Mayor Pete Merrera (left, photo)
and Vice Mayor Sam Rosario.

“Please tell the Mayor I’m supporting any of his programs,” Rosario exhorted the solons in one of the recent sessions where he said he has no plan to run for any political office in the future.

“Ah anyway, kung deal of support deal of support not by words. Kasi ako naman handa naman akong… kailangan ko rin ang tulong nila,” Merrera retorted when this writer recalled to him what Rosario had said on that session as seen on a video sent to him by a reporter of this newspaper.

Earlier, supporters of the two highest elective officials here exchanged barbs at the Facebook account of Mayor Merrera after the latter posted, excerpts:

“ Sa ngayon, hindi pa rin inaaprubahan ng Sangguniang Bayan ang resolution upang payagan ang Municipal Government, sa pangunguna ni Mayor Merrera, upang i-renew ang Memorandum of Agreement para sa waste management services (disposal ng residual wastes) sa pagitan ng lokal na pamahalaan at Metro Clark Waste Management Corporation”.

“Sa isang regular flag raising ceremony noong Hulyo, inihayag ni Mayor Merrera ang pagkadismaya sa sadyang pagharang at pamumulitika sa nasabing resolution”.

A certain Sam Ross, who said he was Vice Mayor Rosario, answered the post of Merrera, excerpt:

“Hindi po totoo na hindi po namin inaaprubahan ang resolution. Sadya nilang binawi ang resolution na Hindi namin alam ang kadahilanan. Pag alis ko sa puwesto bilang mayor noong June 30. May pondo para sa gasolina at para sa solid waste management. 50 percent ang total budget for 2022 ang nagastos lang namin dahil sa election . Sumunod kami sa regulation. Huwag kayong maniwala sa mga fake news na ikinakalat nila. Pakiusap Lang po nagsabi po kayo ng totoo. Maraming salamat. This is Vice mayor Sammy Rosario dating mayor po ninyo”.

Rosario was a nine years' chief executive here whose term ended last June 30.

Merrera told this newspaper that he withdrew the request in the SB for the funding of the P800 per metric ton (pmt) of garbage this town delivered to Metro Clark Waste Management Corporation (MCWMC) in Pampanga because the lawmaking body through the request of Rosario would have to investigate first his municipal administrator why the contract of P850 per ton was inked when Merrera bargained easily the present P800 pmt he pays.

The contract with MCWMC during the administration of former mayor Rosario to dispose the refuse of Binmaley to Clark expired on June 30 this year.

“Kung e-ano pa wala sa committee marami pang pruseso ni pull-out ko na iyan,” Merrera explained why he pulled it out from a committee in the SB so it could not procrastinate his request for the funding of the garbage disposal this year.

Merrera was negotiating with Metro Urdaneta Waste Management Corporation –Urdaneta City that opened in August 15, 2022 for a P500 to P600 pmt service fee of the refuse of the people here.

“What I did through my pocket. Ako rin ang ang deliver at naghakot (going to Clark of the garbage)”.

This first class municipality has at least P350 million present annual budget considered as high among first class towns in Pangasinan.

It has however a more than P124 million loan in the Development Bank of the Philippines where the local government unit pays an interest of 4.25% a year.

Merrera negotiated with the bank that eventually complied that the town pays 4% interest only on top of the yearly amortization.