Mayor softens position

TIn what was seen as a softening of position, Mayor Doloriech Dumaluan of Panglao appeared to have changed his mind given his hardline posture on the planned international airport in his town. No less than Gov. Erico Aumentado confirmed Friday during weekly Governor's Report that in one special occasion in Dauis (blessing and inauguration of Flushing Meadows Resort and Playground), Mayor Dumaluan sidled up to him and hinted his cooperation on the airport project.

The deal Dumaluan was asking for from the governor was that if indeed the project was for real, the mayor wanted “a piece of the action”. Simple as it may seem, the Panglao mayor wanted to assume the role of buying the land requirements of the airport if indeed if were possible for the money to be channeled through the local treasurer's office. That done, he can start negotiating with the lot owners.

One argument advanced by Dumaluan in getting hold with the land money was that it was his way of convincing the doubting Thomases that the airport project is now a foregone reality. With the airport project now under the Manila International Airport Authority, money has started to flow in earnest starting with the impending release of P110 million for land acquisition. During The President's recent visit, it was reported that she already ordered the release of the amount.

THE GOVERNOR'S RESPONSE

Confronted with Dumaluan's apparent change of heart, the governor seemed to be doing a Pontius Pilate. Gov. Aumentado said much to his desire to accommodate the Panglao mayor's request, he cannot do so because he has no control over the money which comes from the coffers of the MIAA. It was reported that the MIAA is earning about P7billion a year and allocating P1 billion a year for the Panglao airport is no big deal. This means that in four years, at the rate of P1 billion a year, the airport project which cost almost the same amount will be over by then. At the same time, Gov. Aumentado also confirmed that Mayor Dumaluan also made the same request to Cong. Edgar Chatto, another prime mover of the Panglao airport. However, up to press time the first district congressman remains mum about the Dumaluan offer.

l