City can shell out money for condo project—Rama

THERE are other ways to fund the construction of a second urban poor condominium at the old Lorega San Miguel cemetery without relying on the pork barrel or Priority Assistance Development Fund (PDAF) of Rep. Rachel “Cutie” del Mar.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama gave this statement yesterday after being blamed for the non-funding of a second Condoville project. Raul del Mar and his daughter Rep. Cutie del Mar earlier said they would not push through with funding a second condominium for the urban poor until after the elections next year when a new mayor is elected.

Rama said the city government could shell out funds for a project that needs it.

“If they wanted to help (for another building) let them help provided that they do not use the poor for their personal gain,” Rama said of the Del Mars.

The mayor said that while P10 million for the construction of the three story Condoville I came from the PDAF of Raul del Mar as former congressman, the money was not personal funds but public funds : Kwarta to sa katawhan” (It’s money of the people).”

Rama said he would meet with the old Lorega cemetery occupants, Gawad Kalinga, city administrator Jose Marie Poblete and the Department for the Welfare of the Urban Poor on Tuesday to discuss the ownership of the lot now occupied by Condoville 1./Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac