BuCor exec assures reopening of roads closed by Tadeco deal

An official of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) has assured that public roads earlier closed due to a joint venture with the Tagum Agricultural Development Company, Inc. (Tadeco) in Davao del Norte, will be reopened.

This, after House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on Tuesday chided Davao Penal Colony Superintendent Gerardo Padilla and accused him of ignorance of the law.

The House committees on good government and public accountability and justice resumed its inquiry into the alleged grossly disadvantageous contract entered into by the BuCor and Tadeco.

Alvarez asked Padilla why he had allowed roads in the joint venture area in Davao del Norte to be closed.

The House Speaker then urged the House committees to recommend the transfer of Padilla for “gross ignorance of his duties and responsibilities.”

“Ano iyang kalsada, public or private?” Alvarez asked Padilla.

“Considered po na government iyan…” Padilla answered.

“Public, gobyerno ang may-ari hindi ba? So bakit mo isinara?” asked Alvarez.

Padilla answered: “Ang alam ko po, noong isinara po iyan, hindi pa po ako ang

nakaupo diyan…”

Padilla added that the roads were closed by virtue of a memorandum between the local agriculture office and the provincial government.

Alvarez asked Padilla: “Ngayon tanungin kita, buksan mo or hindi?

Padilla responded that the roads could be reopened once a resolution from the provincial government is issued.

Padilla’s answer did not sit well with the House Speaker.

“You know Mr. Padilla, you are displaying your gross ignorance. Paano ka ba naging director diyan? Ito simple lang ito, isipin mo ganyan yung takbo ng utak mo. Ang problema kasi, ayaw ng Tadeco, ayaw niyo ring kumilos, gobyerno kayo,” Alvarez said.

“Kapag sinabi po na alisin na po iyan, at anytime puwede po naming pabuksan iyan,” Padilla answered.

But Alvarez retorted: “Maybe the committee can recommend the transfer of Mr. Padilla for gross ignorance of his duties and responsibilities. I don’t think he is fit for that position.”

Tadeco and Bucor entered into a joint venture agreement (JVA) on July 11, 1969. Tadeco leased from BuCor land located inside the Davao Penal Colony for the growing of bananas.

Tadeco President Alexander Valoria justified the road closures in parts of the joint venture area to safeguard their bananas against diseases, specifically fusarium wilt, a fungus that can cause wilting.

But Valoria admitted that 100 percent of roads are owned by BuCor.

At the same hearing, Jesus Boton, a purok leader of Barangay Balagunan, Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte, lashed at Tadeco for collecting high fees from residents in exchange to keep the roads open.

Boton said their barangay had received a memorandum explaining that the roads would be closed due to fusarium wilt infestation. He added that they are being charged P90,000 by Tadeco to open the roads for just three months.

“Sabi ng taga Tadeco pag hindi nyo kaya (magbayad) eh hindi namin bubuksan. Eh alam naman nilang naghihirap na nga kami dyan sa Balagunan sa amin pa ipapapasan?” Boton lamented.

“Hindi nila nakita yung interes ng mga kurakot sa lupang yan. 2014 April 21 pa ipinasara hanggang ngayon sarado parin,” he added. “Hindi na namin makaya ang ginagawa ninyo. Gusto nyo lang angkinin yung kalsadang yan.”   /muf