INCUMBENT JAGNA town Mayor Mark Louie Monungolh has to bite the bullet in the controversial Baywalk reclamation of a portion of Jagna offshore situated at the municipal gym’s back, which now becoming a watering hole for gastronomic appetite and the Bunga Mar Fishport.
“Atong ipatin-aw: dili ni pangdaot, kundi pagpanubag sa kamatuoran. Ang tuyo dili ang pagpanaway, kundi pag-ayo sa sayop ug paglikay nga mausab pa kini sa umaabot,” Mayor Monugolh stressed in his facebook post recently.
The Jagna Monitor responded in its fb post that the said unauthorized reclamations should not be blamed solely on the immediate past administration.
Jagna received a PRA-issued violation notice for the said two reclamations being flagged by the agency as unauthorized or illegal reclamation based on its investigation in 2024.
Though he may not be trying to rock the boat but he admitted that he has to fulfill his duty to pay to Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) an amount of Php1.1 million of penalties plus surcharges despite the fact of a limited municipal fund.
This prompted him to officially referred this to the Sangguniang Bayan for probable supplemental budget to meet the penalty imposition by PRA.
In his personal visit to the office of PRA’s assistant general manager and the team which conducted a probe in 2024, the mayor learned that there was official PRA communication dated October 21, 2024, specifying the things to do to make the reclamation legal.
“Apan, base gihapon sa ilang dokumento, wala’y nahimong pormal nga compliance o aplikasyon sa required nga proseso human sa maong pahimangno. Hinoon, nagpadayon ang development ug paggamit sa area even for commercial purposes kay gipadayon ang pagkolekta ug pagparenta sa ubang investors,” he said.
But who will be answerable to the PRA imposition? The mayor said that it’s unacceptable that the Jagna people will be burdened to the PRA decision as it (past admin) did not follow the correct process.
He said that his administration admitted there’s a problem that cannot be concealed; PRA asked for all the necessary documents; department heads are mandated to provide an explanation; referred the matter to the SB; and evaluation of legal action to protect Jagna’s interest.
In an apparent defense, the Jagna Monitor said that the said reclamations had been started way before of the immediate past administration.
The administrations of late Mayor Atty. Villacastin, then Mayor Marcing Ocmeja Tsurumi, ex-Mayor Eksam Lloren, the late Mayor Abrenilla to former Mayor Joseph Rañola, the reclamations had been there already. These are “historical facts.” If there are lapses before, then it was a collective effort and not a scapegoat.
Why make it a big deal about the payments of ₱1,120,000 for the PRA violations and penalties? The town has an annual budget of ₱268M for this year.
If the present dispensation can easily spend to those not a priority, why it cannot expend the legal obligation on the reclamations, Jagna Monitor retorted.
The Jagna Monitor showed some of the budget for various Jagna activities: ₱16.5M budget for barangays, but alleges that only ₱200K was received for each barangay; ₱5M for loan plan until now nowhere to be found; ₱4.8M for garbage compactor; ₱3M for Mayor’s Office and why build another mayor’s office when there’s already a new one; ₱500K for Mayor’s Cup. Is this a priority?
The problem is not the payment of the obligation. And is suggested that the proper way to face head-on the problem to pay it, secure other documentary requirements and act at once. (RVO)
