So, who’s peddling lies now?

"Definitely not the Alaminos government", said City Vice Mayor Teofilo G. Humilde at the conclusion of the Sangguniang Panlungsod’s Question Hour last November 20.

The city council had proven during the said session that contents of a news report that appeared in two October issues of Pahayagan ng Bayan, perceived to be a biased local newsweekly, were simply malicious lies, misguided and politically motivated.

Reports from the said newsweekly stated that the budget for the construction of an access road for the Alaminos Airport Development Project was already reverted to the national government.

In both issues of said newspaper, the writer blamed the city government of Alaminos for the alleged “reversion” of the funding for the access road.

And worst, it came from the Priority Development Assistance Fund of a congressman.
Angered by paper’s effrontery and perceived intention to make a fool out of Alaminians, multi-sector groups which include businessman, church organizations, brgy. officials, youth leaders, educators and PTCAs and other leading NGOs in the city issued calls to stop “dirty, early and unfair politicking.”

This also prompted Vice Mayor Humilde and the city aldermen to invite the officials of DPWH First Pangasinan Engineering District headed by Engineer Eduardo Paragas to shed light on the matter and once and for all settle the issue and for their citymates to finally know the truth.

Paragas was said to be on an official business. Instead, he sent Asst. District Engineer Florasol Carillo and Engr. Casimiro del Rosario to this august hall to explain their side.

According to Carillo, contrary to the report, the P21 million budget for the said access road project was not “reverted”.

“Recall lang ang nangyari, hindi na-revert,” he stressed, adding that he can’t remember talking or having been interviewed by the editor of said newspaper on the said issue.

Asked about the difference between reversion and recall, Carillo cited that the fund is still intact because it was only recalled.

“Ang ibig sabihin pwedeng kunin ulit ito pag mag-uumpisa na ang proyekto,” he explained further.

Rosario, on the other hand, said that he is constantly coordinating with city administrator Wilmer Panabang on the developments of the said access road project.

Paragas’ representatives likewise set the record straight saying that the funding for the said project did not come from the PDAF of Rep. Arthur Celeste.

Rosario said that since the First PED-Pangasinan is the implementing agency for the project is, the funding definitely come from the regular infrastructure budget of the DPWH.

Last month, Mayor Hernani A. Braganza, Vice Mayor Humilde and some councilors have branded those behind the paper’s malicious reports as “traditional politicians who resort to lying because they have nothing to offer to their citymates.”

The city council had already warned the publisher and editor to “exercise prudence and abide by the journalist’s creed so as not to taint his image or the media profession.”

The august body is yet to decide weather it will invite anew Engr. Paragas to explain his side on the matter and to declare the publisher of the local newspaper ‘persona non grata’ for being an irresponsible member of the 4th state.

What is certain now is that the truth has already come out which will likely silence all those critics of the city government and those who peddle lies in the communities.

And that the construction of the Alaminos Airport Dev’t Project here will be realized and definitely commence early next year. (CIO)