Del Rosario-Bermejo rift erupts anew
ROXAS CITY – The rift between First District Cong. Antonio del Rosario and City Mayor Vicente Bermejo erupted anew after both of them are claiming credit on the P10 million budget recently approved by Malacañang.
Del Rosario said the P10 million is part of his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAP) which he followed up at Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Central Office through Sec. Hermogenes Ebdane.
On the other hand, Bermejo said that the P10 million funds was part of the P40 million which he personally requested from President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
Document obtained by The News Today (TNT) from the mayor’s office revealed that Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) from Department of Budget and Management (DBM) revealed that the P5 million will be spent to Brgy Inzo Arnaldo while another P5 million is intended for Brgy. Banica.
SARO stated that the projects shall be implemented by the Local Government Unit (LGU) through a Memorandum of Agreement with DPWH.
Attached in the SARO are the two letter requests of Bermejo dated May 26 addressed to President Arroyo requesting for funds for the flood control project.
Bermejo also requested the president that the said project will be undertaken by the DPWH 2nd engineering district.
Earlier, the first district solon accused Bermejo of grabbing credit for the P10 million funds for the drainage system in Barangay Inzo Arnaldo and Banica which he had requested from the national government and not by the city mayor.
Del Rosario said that the said projects will be undertaken by the DPWH 1st engineering district.