Returning DPWH funds ‘a waste’

THE threat of Cebu City south district Rep. Tomas Osmeña to cancel close to P300 million worth of projects in his district is not good for the city, said Mayor Michael Rama.

Rama said he is writing President Benigno Aquino III, Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson and DPWH Regional Director Ador Canlas to contest Osmeña’s plan to revert funding back to the national coffers.

Rama said national funding allocated for Cebu city should not be wasted simply because of his predecessor’s “irresponsibility.”

“It is not his (Osmeña) money in the first place. It would be irresponsible for him to revert it back to Manila,” Rama protested.

Osmeña called a press conference last Wednesday to announce that he would no longer pursue road improvement projects in his district because of the “obstructionist” stance of Rama, who questioned why some road projects were done without consulting the mayor’s office.

Osmeña said the national funding for the road projects was made possible through his efforts.

Mayor Rama said returning the money to the national coffers woudl be a waste when the funds could be realigned to defective roads that really need attention.

Rama said he didn’t see the logic of asphalt overlay being removed in roads still in “excellent” condition to be replaced with concrete.

Osmeña on Wednesday said that only projects funded from his pork barrel or PDAF will be pursued.