BAYOMBONG, NUEVA VIZCAYA – Officials here on Wednesday denounced the alleged railroading of the passage of two ordinances by the provincial board allocating more than P31 million for the concreting of roads and repairs of facilities at the provincial capitol compound.

Board Member Patricio Dumlao Jr. accused colleagues in the majority bloc of defrauding the people of Nueva Vizcaya by authorizing the release of funds without following rules.

Despite protests from the opposition, the board on Wednesday approved two measures separately allowing the release of more than P22 million and P9 million, supposedly on the request of Gov. Luisa Cuaresma for a number of projects she considered urgent.

Cuaresma’s allies in the board ignored Dumlao’s requests that the ordinance specify the amounts to be allocated for each project, and that official documents be presented to prove that it underwent proper procedure as required by the Local Government Code.

The bulk of the amount, at P15 million, was earmarked for the concreting of four provincial roads. An item indicated only “other provincial roads,” without specifying the amounts that would be spent for each.

More than P8 million was also set aside to fund “various repairs,” including the repair of toilets at the capitol compound.

Board Member Edgardo Balgos said the toilets at the capitol have been the subjects of complaints from visitors because of the stench emanating from them.

But Dumlao assailed the swift approval of the fund ordinance despite failure of the proponent, Board Member Efren Quiben, to prove that the projects to be funded were urgent.

Records showed that Cuaresma wrote the board on Tuesday. The board approved the ordinance the following day.

“Is the concreting of roads near the town centers urgent, when there are other roads in far-flung areas that need these funds? Or is the fencing of the capitol compound, the repair of [toilets] or purchase of Christmas decors urgent?” Dumlao asked.