Saying the plan was rigorously studied, Pandan local officials led by Mayor Raul Tabirara last week defended its proposed P155 million loan for the establishment of a sanitary landfill, upgrading of two water systems and acquisition of heavy equipment.
In a press conference at the LGU evacuation center, the local chief executive stressed that the priority projects were discussed and approved for funding as part of the executive-legislative development agenda.
“This was not planned for a week or a month,” Mayor Tabirara said, adding that he, department heads, Sangguniang Bayan members led by Vice Mayor Erick Rodriguez, and all 26 barangay captains even conducted a benchmarking activity in Legaspi City, Tabaco City and Sorsogon.
The loan is an initiative of the local government towards the right direction to a productive and sustainable future for all Pandananons, he stressed.
The proposed sanitary landfill would be important in protecting the environment and ensuring the health of constituents while the two water projects are intended to assure the availability of safe potable water, the mayor stated, with the heavy equipment to strengthen the capability of the municipality in implementing vital infrastructure projects.
On the local media’s query on the removal of the P25-million dialysis center from the project list, Sangguniang Bayan Secretary Nenebeth Rima disclosed that during the benchmarking activity of local officials at the dialysis centers at Juan M. Alberto Memorial District Hospital and the Eastern Bicol Medical Center, they found out that their plan was not that positive.
During their meeting with Governor Joseph Cua, it was pointed out that a dialysis center is not an emergency facility.
It was likewise confirmed by Provincial Administrator Eulalia Talaran that the Panda LGU’s request for the donation of a 400-sq. meter portion of the Pandan District Hospital for the dialysis center would not be possible due to the planned construction of a building on the same site.
Cua instead advised the group to utilize the funds for the establishment or upgrading of the town’s water systems.
Besides, the trained manpower from the provincial government sought to be deployed to the proposed dialysis center would not be available.
Mayor Tabirara bared that for some time now, the Pandan Water District has been unable to supply potable water to all its service areas even during the rainy season when water becomes muddy.
It is able to supply only half of the 30,000 cubic meter monthly demand, he said.
The water system component of the loan is split into P30 million for a Level 3 water system in the uplant barangays of Tokio, Lourdes, Wagdas, Tabugoc, San Roque and Marambong; another P10 million for the lowland barangays of Napo, Libod, Del Norte, Del Sur and a portion of Oga; and the extra P25 million for the construction of a new water source and filtration facility at sitio Minabaka in Tariwara.
The LGU plans to enter into a 50-50 revenue sharing contract for 30 years with PWD, with the deal to raise a total of P86 million for the municipal government during the period.
Another added benefit would be a proposal to expand the coverage to nearby barangays of Oga, Catamban, Cobo and Sta. Cruz, as the excess water from the two water sources would be maximized through the replacement of existing 4-inch transmission pipes with 6-inch ones.
On why the water district has not been able to undertake its improvement projects on its own, Mayor Tabirara said the district’s operation has not been profitable and it lacks technical staff to handle such projects.
With regards to the sanitary landfill, the chief executive said additional revenue would come from agreements with nearby LGUs like Caramoran, Bagamanoc, Panganiban and Viga which would be allowed to dispose of their residual waste for a fee.
Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer James Rojas informed that the project was pushed by the LGU after residents near the existing open dumpsite complained of residue from the dump due to lack of environmental safeguards.
The proposed landfill is in accordance with the town’s approved 10-year Solid Waste Management Plan that was passed in April 2023.
Garbage collection has been a big problem for Pandan LGU, he said, with a Waste Analysis and Characterization Study (WACS) conducted with the help of the DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau showing that the town generates 9,980 kilograms of waste per day.
Residual water accounts for the largest portion at 44.5%, with biodegradables and recyclables at 30.9% and 24.3%, respectively.
The landfill itself will be established in a 14,983-square-meter lot, with the first cell to occupy 2,093 square meters with a depth of 15 meters, enough to accommodate 30,000 cubic meters of residual waste within 15 years.
Also to be constructed are a leachate treatment facility and leachate pond, along with support facilities such as perimeter fence and drain, monitor wells, storm pond and surface drainage system, site field office and staff house, recovered material baling and storage sheds, two (2) Material Recovery Facilities (MRF), hospital waste treatment facility and waste storage.
The project will cost almost P50 million, excluding heavy equipment and the P10 million access road, Rojas disclosed.
It will be implemented alongside the LGU’s MRF sites, glass shredder and plastic shredder that are currently being utilized.
Aside from its role in the implementation of infra projects, the three units of heavy equipment – a dump truck, excavator and payloader – to be purchased for P30 million will also be used in the landfill operation.
It will be the second time Pandan LGU has sought a big loan, with the first in the amount of P52 million used to build a seawall. That loan will be repaid in three to four years, it was reported.
Mayor Tabirara assured his constituents that the delivery of basic services or the grant of assistance to needy individuals will not be affected by the loan, which carries total interest of P88 million.
“Kayang bayaran ang P243 million within 15 years,” the LGU’s finance and planning officials reiterated, pointing out that the municipality’s net borrowing capacity as calculated by the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) is P166 million.
Total amortization for the first year would be over P5 million, with the highest amount coming up to P22 million in about five years, which is less than the 2024 Development Fund of P28 million.
Acting Municipal Treasurer Senen Razal said that the loan documents have already been submitted to DBP based on the BLGF checklist and the bank offer sheet and are now undergoing evaluation.
It will take about one to two months more at BLGF before final approval at the Monetary Board and the the go signal for the bank to approve the loan.
Mayor Tabirara said the LGU will not handle the loan, as DBP will release the money to the contractor based on progress billings.
He denied the accusations hurled at local officials on social media by certain critics which he said are now bordering on hurtful personal attacks.
Tabirara described as a lie the allegation that no consultation was done in barangay Tokio, saying that the LGU held two public hearings on the issue, the first at the municipal hall and the second at the barangay itself.
To counter this, the LGU has started the Talakayan/Ugnayan in all barangays with the mayor himself, SB members and department heads present to hear and address the concerns of residents.
Meanwhile, acting treasurer Razal attributed the recent increase in the LGU’s tax collection to the implementation of the existing Revenue Code.
From the target of P3 million in 2023, the LGU was able to collect P4.2 million in real property taxes, plus another P3.09 million in business taxes compared to the target of P1.5 million.
He said that upon verifying that only six of the 187 pages of the Code was being imposed, he launched a campaign to implement the other provisions, including the examination of books of accounts of some business with doubtful gross revenues, which he said is being done only in Pandan.
On the other hand, Municipal Accountant Manuel Soriao stated that his office is now addressing the town’s failure to achieve the Seal of Good Financial Housekeeping which he blamed on adverse findings of unreported transactions.
“We have already hired additional personnel to handle the required reports and reconciliation of accounts,” he said in assuring that internal controls are now in place for fair and reliable financial statements.
The mayor also revealed that his administration has filed two graft cases before the Ombudsman against former Mayor Atty. Honesto Tabligan II and several LGU officials for allegedly anomalous transactions during his term,
He refused to disclose details of the two complaints, pending receipt of the reply affidavits from the respondents.