PINABACDAO, Samar- Governor Sharee Ann Tan said that the proposed P800 million would still be pursued saying that it intends to fund projects that would benefit the people of the province.
However, she admitted that she could not give any specific period when these projects could start, considering that the proposed loan is still under question. The P800 million proposed loan by the provincial government is being questioned by Board Member Alma Uy. Uy had earlier sought for a restraining order from a Catbalogan City-based regional trial court which later nullified it. But this decision of Judge Agerico Avila, presiding judge of Regional Trial Court Branch 29, is being questioned by Uy who filed a motion for reconsideration. Apart from this legal question, the provincial government is still waiting for the certification coming from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas or Central Bank while the loan has yet to be realized, the governor said.
“But we will push through with it although we are thinking that it might be affected because of the election ban. Nevertheless, we can still proceed after the election,” Tan said.
The P800 million proposed loan, with the Land Bank of the Philippines identified as the financial institution where the loan would be secure, will be used to finance the building of a 200-bed capacity Samar Provincial Hospital and the construction of roads across the province. Gov. Tan said that she is particular in the building of a new provincial hospital saying this would help the people of the province as they would no longer go to Tacloban City for their medical needs. “We could help decongest Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center or other hospitals in Tacloban City of patients coming from Samar once we build our new provincial hospital,” Tan said.
(JOEY A. GABIETA with TITO ACBO)
