In one of Short Cuts’ visits in a local government unit in the eastern part of the province, he was able to uncover a very interesting item worthy to be discussed.
Accordingly, the provincially-owned Governor’s Mansion is already off limits to the general public.
“Some rooms are already padlocked!, it’s now off-limits to the public” the information went further.
How true is the information?
Single-handedly therefore, Short Cuts had to do his own initial investigation.
Result?
True, indeed.
As to the reason for its closure, the informant was totally ignorant. He was also wondering.
So, what could be inside the rooms as a major reason that led for the off limits of the building to the public?
Bewildered with the information, Short Cuts had to look for an answer to the query.
And, thru a very close ally during Short Cuts’ stint as vice-governor of the province, he got this wonderful answer.
“Gallons of water, dozens of electric generators and a numerous pieces of mats!”
What were those items for?
To Short Cuts’ mind, they are perceived to be relief goods.
And, there could be no other possible interpretation that could ever be attributed to such presence. Common sense dictates to such an interpretation.
If those items stocked at the Governor’s Mansion are for relief operations, what calamity that struck the province for these items to address?
Definitely, the victims of typhoon Odette that struck the province in December last year are the supposed beneficiaries.
In Short Cuts’ visits in the barangays of the first and second Congressional Districts of the province a week after the typhoon struck, it was an appalling sight to see thousands of our brother Boholanos rendered homeless. All local government units in the entire province were not exceptions to the sufferings caused by the disaster.
They, too, were without electricity!
Air conditioned rooms with computers in the municipalities can no longer function. Correspondingly, a number government employees were paid but with LESS duties being achieved!
These electric generators should have been delivered to the local government units!
Therefore, what could have been the reasons behind the so-long a period of time in its failure to deliver the goods to the typhoon victims?
Four months had already passed since the calamitous typhoon. Yet, the relief goods are still inside the Governor’s Mansion.
A week or two after the typhoon “visited”, water and mats were the most needed items.
Short Cuts just hopes that the delayed distribution of the relief goods stocked at the Governor’ Mansion is NOT “wrapped” with political agenda.
It must be recalled that the establishment of the Governors’ Mansion is replete with records as to its establishment.
Memory tells Short Cuts that in the 1950s to 1960s there was no Governor’s Mansion to speak of. That same building was the Office of the Schools Division Superintendent of Bohol.
A year after the late CARLOS P. GARCIA took his oath of office in 1957 as the highest elected official in the country after the death of then President Ramon Magsaysay, the first and only Interscholastic Meet was held in this City of Tagbilaran.
The track and field, and the whole athletic compound, was fully renovated.
The first gymnasium in the province was constructed to be the venue of all basketball games during the meet. A first and grandiose grandstand was established, an edifice that was beyond compare with others in the provinces and cities in Central Visayas in that particular year.
Some two or three years after hosting the national meet, the Schools Division Office of the province was transferred to the ground floor of the athletic grandstand.
And, the vacated building?
That became the Governor’s Mansion.
As envisioned by the government planners of the province at that time, the Governor’s Mansion should be the official residence of the governor.
To Short Cuts’ memory, most of the previous governors were residing in that building during their terms of office.
Consequently therefore, this same building should not be converted into a bodega!
Hina-ut pa unta!
