By Boy Ryan Zabal
The beleaguered fire marshal is counting her day in Kalibo Fire Station.
This is after the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) members expressed their loss of confidence relative to the performance of her duty as Kalibo Fire Marshall. The SB of Kalibo approved a resolution expressing their loss of confidence to Senior Fire Insp. Gweenah Besas and urged the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to replace her.
According to SB member Melanie Tolentino, vital government offices such as the Municipal Planning and Development Office for zoning clearance, the Municipal Health Office for the sanitary and health cards issuance, the Kalibo PNP for police clearance and the Kalibo Fire Station for fire clearance composed the ‘One-Stop-Shop’.
It aimed to fast track the processing of permits and clearances prior to the issuance of permits and other licenses by the local government unit, she added.
But the three-termer SB member observed that during the stint of Besas as Kalibo Fire Marshall, her office failed to provide a representative in the ‘one-stop-shop’.
"This non-provision of representative was also noted by Mayor Raymar Rebaldo who brought the matter to the attention of Besas. Unfortunately, this was not acted upon favorably, to the disadvantage and inconvenience of the transacting public," Tolentino added.
In Resolution No. 2007-012 approved by the SB members, it stressed, "the clear defiance of the establishment of the ‘One-Stop-Shop’ under DILG Memorandum Circular No. 99-35 including the provision of ample office space to facilitate the issuance of Fire Safety Inspection and other certificates." Tolentino also criticized the urgent transfer of a Kalibo fire truck to the Boracay Fire Station in Boracay Island without prior notification to Mayor Rebaldo and the SB members.
"This is a clear manifestation of disrespect and obvious bypassing of the local officials who should be the first to know on the pull out of the fire truck as it involves public safety and security affecting the entire community," Tolentino said.
Rebaldo confirmed that Besas failed to communicate with him despite the appointments he requested to discuss the issues for a better delivery of services in the community.
"The disrespect, unsupportive and ‘I do not care’ attitude of Besas has lost the trust and confidence of the local government of Kalibo prompting us to seek the assistance of DILG to replace Besas," the SB members said.
What added to the dismay of the SB members is the collection of additional 10 percent fee out of all charges collected by the local government of Kalibo including that of business and real property taxes without any clarification with Rebaldo and the SB members.
The accumulated amount paid for clearances and permits – police, zoning, realty tax, rental and charges, fire, sanitary permit, medical certificate, cost of health card, business tax (lessor tax), garbage tax and mayor’s permit and special occasion permit is subjected to additional 10 percent fee known as Fire Safety Inspection Fee under Section 1.206 of the Fire Code of the Philippines, Besas compelled to collect.
Korean Flights To Kalibo Starts In March
Meanwhile, Aklan Representative Florencio Miraflores announced the start of landing of foreign aircrafts starting with the inaugural flights directly from South Korea to the Kalibo domestic airport would start on the first week of March. Miraflores stressed, the preparations for the first regional flights from Itchon, Korea is in place with flights thrice a week.
"These (regional flights) could be a historic milestone in the united leadership and support of Aklanons for having regional flights ahead of other airports in Panay Island ," Miraflores pointed out. He allocated an additional P50-million for a new passenger terminal to accommodate more tourists and visitors, including the customs and immigration offices. According to Aklan Gov. Carlito Marquez, immigration and customs officials had conducted site inspection of the domestic airport last week. The additional components of the Instrument Landing System (ILS) would be installed in time for the regional flights to improve the navigational and landing facilities of the Kalibo airport, he added.
"More Korean tourists will be able to visit Boracay Island with the opening of direct flights from Asian capitals next month," the governor pointed out. With flights from Korea, Miraflores is optimistic that regional company airlines from other countries will follow to cater to the growing tourism market in the renowned tourist island resort of Boracay. Vice Gov. Ronquillo Tolentino also said the regional flights would add to the P10.4-billion tourism receipts last year. Tourists, who went to Boracay Island , registered 567,421, of which 184,363 were foreigners and 351,537 domestic.
Panay Island is constructing a P6.5-billion international airport in Iloilo province. It maybe operationalized on April 17, 2007. /MP
No comments:
Post a Comment