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LAPU-LAPU CITY, Philippines – Lapu-Lapu City’s exclusion from the Cebu provincial government’s Suroy-Suroy tourism program has nothing to do with their ongoing tussle at the Regional Development Council (RDC).
That much was said by Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia who kept mum over Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Arturo Radaza’s statement that the city does not need the Suroy-Suroy program for its tourism campaign.
Garcia said any objections by Lapu-Lapu City officials against her call for a special RDC meeting will be addressed by regional director Marlene Rodriguez of the National Economic Development Authority-Central Visayas (Neda-7).
Rodriguez could not be reached for comment on Sunday.
Garcia, who chairs the RDC, called for a special session to vote on a resolution asking President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to defer the Lapu-Lapu reclamation project.
The resolution failed to pass in an RDC meeting scheduled early this month due to a lack of quorum.
The Cebu provincial government opposes the reclamation project because it will affect the flow of water at the Mactan Channel.
Garcia said Neda-7 will send a written reply to Lapu-Lapu administrator Teodulo Ybañez this Monday on the points he raised in his letter to Neda-7 last Thursday.
The governor also clarified that her decision to exclude Lapu-Lapu from the Suroy-Suroy itinerary stemmed from the failure of Lapu-Lapu representatives to attend the Suroy-Suroy meeting last July 17.
A press statement previously issued by the Cebu Capitol said an invitation for the July 17 meeting was issued to the Lapu-Lapu City mayor's office last July 9.
Mark Ycong, the mayor's appointment secretary, was also informed by phone last July 15 about the Suroy-Suroy meeting.
However, Lapu-Lapu Tourism Commission officer Rudy Villanobos said he was not informed even if he lives near the Cebu Provincial Capitol.
On the day of the Suroy-Suroy meeting, an irate Garcia questioned the absence of Lapu-Lapu city officials who later requested that a special meeting between them be held instead.
Governor Garcia rejected the request.
Next month’s Suroy-Suroy schedule would have included visits to the Birhen sa Regla Shrine, city plaza and Mactan shrine in Lapu-Lapu City.
