Yee: I’m willing to work with DPWH
Iloilo City Councilor Edward Yee said yesterday he is willing to work with the Department of Public Works and Highways 6 in drawing up a street design for the Diversion Road and Treñas Boulevard once the agency proceeds with clearing the area.
Yee, who owns Barbecue Park restaurant, was issued a “Notice of Obstruction” on July 28, 2010 as his establishment usurps a portion of the highway.
“If ever this time they are decided, I could work with them to make a street design,” he told The News Today in a telephone interview.
The councilor said his establishment is occupying about three meters of the highway, but “visibly, it’s far from the road.”
Still, he gave his word to the DPWH 6 that he will work with them, he said.
“If they want to clear the whole area, I’m willing (to cooperate),” he said.
But Yee said although he has expressed his willingness to cooperate with the government on the matter, it seems that he is being singled out despite doing business in the area for 20 years.
“Why pick on me?” he asked.
Moreover, Yee said that in the matter of dumping waste into the Iloilo River, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has also coordinated with him.
“In fairness to the DENR, they have been fair and courteous,” he said, adding that it has been found out his establishment is generating only less then three cubic meters of waste that are not even toxic.
Those required to put up a wastewater treatment plant are establishments that generate more than 25 cubic meters of waste, he said.
“Again, why pick on me? There are bigger establishments that dump their waste (in the Iloilo River),” he said.
He added: “I have been asking the Environment Management Bureau for the Implementing Rules and Regulations because I want to understand the requirements.”
Amid the controversy, Yee said: “I promise that before my term ends, we will develop the area.”*
