On Pacanan as ‘persona non grata’

By Herbert Vego

THIS writer does not know Engr. Roy Pacanan from Adam, but I can empathize with him over his decision to snub the invitations of Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu and the Iloilo City Council. Why would he show up when the council had declared him a “persona non grata”?

He called the label “degrading” and “insulting.”

Since the Latin phrase literally refers to an “unacceptable” or “unwelcome” person, showing up before the council would be a step in the wrong direction.

City Hall, on the other hand, has the right to grill him over his questionable performance as officer-in-charge of the Iloilo City District Engineering Office (ICDEO). One of the issues raised against him concerns the multi-million-peso flood-control projects that no less than President Marcos pooh-poohed for being “substandard.”

After an aerial inspection of the Iloilo projects on August 13, Marcos held the contractors behind the failed flood mitigation liable, and so had to be blacklisted.

The President learned that the city government had already issued a cease-and-desist order against the projects that had worsened flooding in Jaro district, damaged properties, and allegedly caused deaths.

Pacanan called the cease-and-desist order “legally invalid,” lacking legal and factual basis.

Therefore, Pacanan would play hard-to-get unless Mayor Raisa and the city council lift the “persona non grata” tag.

While listening to the morning program of RMN-Iloilo broadcasters Novie Guazo and Regan Arlos yesterday, I thought they made a sensible suggestion to Pacanan, and another to the mayor.

To Pacanan, let him seek an audience with the mayor for lifting of the “persona non grata” declaration.

Otherwise, let the mayor summon him to her inner sanctum for the same reason.

If after forgiving him for whatever sins he has committed against the city government, he remains adamant, isumbong n’yo kay Bongbong!

Don’t you agree, Kagawad Romel Duron?

-oOo-

SEN. JOEL VILLANUEVA IN HOT WATER

“As the majority leader of the Senate, I don’t see any senator involved in any of these 15 construction firms.”

We heard it from Sen. Joel Villanueva in the beginning of the Senate probe linking 15 contractors to involvement in the anomalous flood control projects nationwide.

It is unthinkable that as a “gentleman from Bulacan,” he knew nothing about substandard and ghost flood-control projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in his province.

How could he be so blind when Bulacan bagged a total of P43.5 billion worth of flood-control projects of the DPWH from 2021 to 2024?

No less than President Marcos got the biggest shock of his life when he visited the Bulacan city of Baliwag to verify a citizen’s complaint about a non-existent but fully paid P55-million reinforced concrete river-wall.  It was an example of a ghost project!

Oh well, Villanueva could probably argue that ghosts are invisible to the naked eye.

-oOo-

NEGROS POWER MARKS 1^ST ANNIVERSARY WITH SURGICAL MISSION

IT has been one year since Negros Electric and Power Corporation (Negros Power) took over as power-distribution utility in Bacolod City and suburbs.

In celebration of that milestone, the company sponsored a surgical mission at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) on August 12 to 15 in partnership with the World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP)

Maricel Pe, the pretty assistant vice president for customer care and marketing of Negros Power, said that 17 patients had benefited from major and minor operations.

Earlier, Negros Power, had conducted the same activity at Valladolid District Hospital.

The procedures performed include herniotomy, rectal biopsy, posterior sagittal anorectoplasty (PSARP), pullthrough surgeries, closure of colostomy, among others.

A total of 35 medical doctors, nurses and volunteers handled the operations.

“Through our partnership with the World Surgical Foundation Philippines, we are not just providing electricity, we are empowering lives, one surgery at a time. As we celebrate our first anniversary, we remain true to our promise: Ikaw ang una—our people will always come first,” Pe said.

Kudos to Negros Power President Roel Z. Castro for ensuring that its first anniversary contributed to better health for the Negrenses.