DPWH told: Don’t cut eGwen

Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia urged the Department of Public and Highways to coordinate closely with local government units in implementing projects so that the eGWEN project will not be affected.

Several towns complained during the Provincial Development Council meeting yesterday that the DPWH has been cutting newly planted trees and uprooting ornamental plants used in the beautification campaign under the eGWEN Our Cebu Program.

Alegria town Mayor Millette Guisadio said the DPWH-7’s 4th Engineering District cut newly planted trees and uprooting plants, discouraging residents in the beautification and greening project.

A DPWH representative, however, said they have not touched any plants unless they have to implement projects like drainage systems.

The eGWEN or Expanded Green and Wholesome Environment that Nurtures program is a province-wide contest that evaluates the performance of all towns and cities in Cebu in areas of environment protection, health, governance and heritage.

One criteria is the beautification of roads.

Three new categories were introduced for the eGWEN Our Cebu, a program whose initials spell out the governor’s name.

These categories include Best Interior Barangay, Best Purok and Best District Engineering Office.

Meanwhile, Rowena Alensonorin of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) announced the top 20 LGUs for the eGWEN program.

These are Alegria, Argao, Barili, Carcar City, Cordova, Dalaguete, Ginatilan, Liloan, Moalboal, Oslob, Poro, San Francisco, Tabuelan, Toledo City, Tudela, Bogo City, Boljo-on, Catmon, Samboan, and Tuburan.

San Francisco town in Camotes Island was also cited as a model in eGWEN implementation.

As an incentive, Garcia announced yesterday that she will give a tourist bus to each of the 20 LGUs.

The buses will be given during the annual awarding of the eGWEN program in August.

Other agenda discussed in the meeting were updates of the Cebu History Writing Project, which is set to be launched during the 443rd Founding Anniversary of Cebu province, and insurance coverage for farmers and fisherman all over Cebu province.

Garcia said she targets 80 percent coverage by the third quarter of this year.