Newly-installed Board Member Maria Angela Sabando is questioning the selection process in choosing beneficiaries in Roxas town of the solar lighting project of the provincial government.
Sabando, in a privilege speech Tuesday, said that when she was the town mayor, they submitted a list of priority areas where solar lights are needed.
“We have provided geographically disadvantaged areas, may binigay kami na listing before election at nilagay namin doon ay ang mga very remote areas. Hindi na ako nakialam doon basta ang planning office na namin ang binigyan ko ng order to identify kung anong mga barangay ang mas kailangan ng solar at iyon ang i-endorse sa province pero hindi ‘yon nasunod,” Sabando said.
About 16 of the 31 barangays in Roxas have no access to electricity, she said.
“When the project was implemented it included Brgy.3 that already has an electrical connection. So I am asking what happened?” Sabando added.
She cited Brgys. Bagong Bayan, Antonino, Tinitian, San Miguel and Jolo as villages that still have no access to electricity.
Sabando also added that Roxas is also one of the biggest beneficiaries of the Sitio Electrification Program of the National Electrification Administration (NEA).
“Pwede naman tayo mag-prioritize ‘di ba? Ang ibinigay namin na list ay hindi nasunod, parang ganoon,” she added.
Board Member Leoncio Ola said that some of the projects are being politicized in its selection of beneficiaries.
“Minsan kasi namumulitika sila, kapag hindi nila kakampi, hindi nila dinadaanan,” Ola said.
The matter has been referred to the Committee on Infrastructure.
