03 January 2006
GMA passes buck to JDV on bangus processing plant
WHO is to blame for the abandoned bangus processing plant project here in Dagupan City?
If reports are to be believed, the finger is pointed at House Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr. as a seemingly surprised President Macapagal-Arroyo washed her hands off the delay — or unsustained funding – of the project.
If reports are to be believed, the finger is pointed at House Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr. as a seemingly surprised President Macapagal-Arroyo washed her hands off the delay — or unsustained funding – of the project.
Arroyo, as is her habit when she goes to the North, dropped by her favorite seafoods restaurant in the city last Monday noon on her way by helicopter to Baguio City along with her family.
Mayor Benjamin S. Lim, despite his political differences with the Chief Executive, joined the President for lunch.
Mayor Benjamin S. Lim, despite his political differences with the Chief Executive, joined the President for lunch.
In their conversation, she reportedly asked the mayor about the status of the project, whether it was already finished or nearing completion.
She was surprised when Lim told her the project had not even started, the mayor told newsmen later.
The President told the mayor she had entrusted the project to De Venecia and thought all along that it was going on smoothly. She had no idea it never got off the ground.
Arroyo, during her early days in power, pledged support to the project when she came over for the celebration of the First Bangus Festival. She gave an initial P10 million and directed the Department of Agriculture to allocate additional funds for it. The funds never arrived however apparently due to the bureaucratic maze.
Lim appears to have lost all hope about any funding assistance from the national government for the project due to bureaucratic red tape. He said he stopped following up after several tries and failing to have the funds released.
He has not abandoned the project however. He said he invited foreign investors particularly from China to fund or pursue the project.
The mayor had called for the President to resign at the height of the “Hello Garci” scandal. Her unfulfilled promises to the city including funding for the P300-million processing plant might have been a factor in Lim’s distancing from her and even joining the call of the opposition for her to step down, some observers said.
It was not clear if the President was not fully apprised of the matter by the DA or by De Venecia himself.
