Treñas answers Drilon's query on CDF use
Mayor Jerry Treñas still has kind words to Senator Franklin Drilon even if the latter questioned how he spent the P58.065 Countrywide Development Fund (CDF) which the Ilonggo senator gave to the city.
The P58.065 million is a subject of a Memorandum of Agreement between the National Housing Authority (NHA), Department of Public Works and Highways, Senator Drilon and the city government to fund the acquisition of the Poverty Alleviation Fund-III Resettlement Site in support of the Iloilo Flood Control Project under RA 8522 or General Appropriation Act of 1998 from the appropriation released to the NHA for the implementation of the Poverty Alleviation Fund project.
Treñas said the city government will have to find funds or have a loan to finance the resettlement of families affected by the Iloilo Flood Control Project if the senator would no longer apportion a slice of his CDF. The mayor will also send a letter to Drilon detailing how the money was spent.
The chief executive ruled out that there is politics on the senator's inquiry. Drilon issued a statement over the P58 million CDF in his last visit to Iloilo. The mayor is a protegee of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, while Drilon parted ways with the administration and even joined calls for the President's resignation.
In his letter to Drilon, Treñas said that on January 4, 2006, City Accountant Ms. Consolacion Tormon issued a certificate that the amount of P28,628,750 is available for land acquisition for the housing development under the National Housing Authority Poverty Alleviation Fund.
The city paid an initial payment of P28,628,750 for the 162,202 square meters of lot owned by Marilyn Inocencio to be used as resettlement site. The payment was made after the city entered into a Deed of Sale with Inocencio family on January 5, 2006. The entire property cost P58.065 million.
The TCT No. T-155909 was already issued in favor of the city government. It is provided in the Deed of Sale that upon the first payment is made, the vendee or its agent or the Department of Public Works and Highways may take possession of the property and introduce improvements.
The mayor added that on August 23, 2006, he sent a letter to NHA General Manager Federico Laza requesting for the release of the remaining balance of PAF III "purposely for the full payment of Inocencio's property."