Marinduque Airport to resume commercial flights on July 15

List of airports with LGU clearance to resume commercial flights was earlier issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP)

As of  4 July 2020,  30 airports in the country whose Local Government Units (LGUs) have issued orders categorically supporting the resumption of commercial airport operations were listed. 

A new infographic released by CAAP showed that Marinduque Airport will open on July 15, 2020.

Marinduque Airport Protocol to be followed; what the PH tourism industry is doing; Cebu Pacific announcement

Cebu Pacific announces Independence Day 'Piso Sale'

Budget carrier Cebu Pacific announced a seat sale starting June 12, Philippines Independence Day.

In a Facebook post, Cebu Pacific said the “Piso Sale” is available for booking until June 14 to select domestic and international destinations for travel periods from February 1 to May 31, 2021. 

The following Philippine destinations are available for as low as P1 bases fare 

·         Cebu to Bacolod, Boracay (Caticlan), Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Calbayog, Camiguin, Clark, Coron (Busuanga), Davao, Dipolog, Dumaguete, General Santos, Iloilo, Legazpi, Ozamiz, Pagadian, Puerto Princesa, Siargao, Surigao, Tacloban, or Zamboanga

·         Clark to Bacolod, Boracay (Caticlan), Davao, Iloilo, or Puerto Princesa

·         Davao to Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo, or Zamboanga

·         Manila to Bacolod, Boracay (Caticlan), Bohol, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Cauayan (Isabela), Cebu, Coron (Busuanga), Cotabato, Davao, Dipolog, Dumaguete, General Santos, Iloilo, Kalibo, Legazpi, Masbate, Marinduque, Naga, Ozamiz, Pagadian, Puerto Princesa, Roxas, San Jose (Mindoro), Siargao, Tablas, Tacloban, Tuguegarao, Virac, Zamboanga

·         Zamboanga to Tawi-Tawi

 NNote: The above article first appeared on GMA News Online on June 12, 2020.

 Meanwhile, the Department of Tourism's official website has published the following information with respect to airport protocols to be observed once the relevant airports' operations have commenced.

WHAT THE PHILIPPINE TOURISM INDUSTRY IS DOING

The Philippine government is in close coordination with its tourism stakeholders—including airlines, hotels and resorts, and tour operators—to cascade guidelines to ensure all precautionary measures are enforced to contain the spread of the virus in the country.

AIRPORT PROTOCOL

Screening for flu-like symptoms for all departing and arriving passengers. Individuals that show symptoms of the COVID-19 will be isolated, quarantined and monitored.

Requiring all suppliers’ action plans on precautions towards COVID-19

Producing meals based on Global Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) standards

 

Aviation Health Protocols And Requirements For Locally Stranded Individuals And Returning OFWs

Marinduque Airport. ARFF Marinduque Airport file photo.

 MARINDUQUE AIRPORT▲

The following are the requirements before any returning resident will be allowed to return to his/her home in the province: 

The returning resident must accomplish Form 1 of the Task Force Salun-at which is the Request for Entry of the Returning Resident. This should be submitted to their respective Local Government Units (LGUs) for verification of their residency in llocos Norte. The documents to be prepared should include a Proof of Residence in llocos Norte and any Valid lD.

Once the respective LGU ascertains the validity of the residency of the returning resident, he/she may book his/her flight.

The returning resident must likewise accomplish Form 2 which is the Health Declaration Form.

The returning resident must possess a health certificate issued by the City/Municipal Health Office of the place of the originating LGU based on the following conditions:

Returning resident is neither a contact, suspect, or probable of confirmed COVID-19 case

If the returning resident had been once confirmed as COVID-19 case, he/she must be found negative through RT-PCR twice.

The returning resident must undergo the mandatory 14-day quarantine with the following options:

A PGIN-controlled quarantine facility

lsolation area or quarantine facility of the receiving LGU

These documents (Request for Entry, Health Certificate and Health Declaration Form) along with Certificates of Completion of Quarantine and Official Results of COVID-19 tests (if applicable) should be presented prior to check-in.

Thermal Scan and Symptom Check should be done prior to boarding. Those with temperatures higher than 37.5°C or those with symptoms referable to COVID-19 shall not be allowed to board.

Cebu Pacific to offer Manila-Marinduque flights starting April 1

Budget carrier Cebu Pacific on Wednesday announced that it will start offering flights from Manila to Marinduque and vice versa starting April 1, 2019.

Its subsidiary Cebgo will operate the route which will be available to air travelers every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.

The flights to the island province, which will take about just an hour compared to the eight hours of travel by land and ferry, will depart from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 4 in Manila.

"We are excited to begin operations in one of the most beautiful islands in the Philippines—Marinduque... Regular flights will allow business to prosper and the island’s tourism sector to boom," said Alexander Lao, president and CEO of Cebgo.

Marinduque is known for its "Moriones Festival" which is held annually during the Holy Week.

The island province's white sand beaches are also a tourist draw during the summer. 

Source: GMA News by Dona Magsino

You Can Soon Fly Direct to the Charming Island of Marinduque

Summer is just a month away (or maybe even weeks) and you're probably busy planning your next getaway. But don't settle for the usual tourist destinations just yet! Cebu Pacific, which is having a month-long seat sale, will start flying direct from Manila to Marinduque on April 1. Flight schedule is every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. To celebrate this launch, a sale price of P499 (base fare) is available for booking from March 6 to 13 with the travel period from April 1 to October 26.

View of southern Marinduque. Photo by Gino Mempin

Marinduque, an island province located south of Lucena, Quezon, is well known for the Moriones Festival. This is held annually during Holy Week, and participants dress up as Roman soldiers from Biblical times. There is a reenactment of the search for Longinus, the Roman centurion who pierced the side of the crucified Christ and was converted to Christianity after experiencing a miracle first-hand. Aside from this interesting tradition, Marinduque also boasts white-sand beaches, sandbars, and clear-blue waters perfect for diving.

The direct flight cuts a lot of travel time for travelers who just want to see the wonders of this heart-shaped island. And when we say a lot, we mean up to eight hours! You have to spend four hours aboard a bus from Manila to Dalahican Port in Lucena, then take another four-hour ride on a roll-on, roll-off ferry to the island province. That's almost a whole day you could have just spent lying on the beach.

For more information, visit Cebu Pacific’s website.

Source: (SPOT.ph) 

Look! Marinduque Airport to be completed by June 2018

Cong Lord Allan Velasco with CAAP Acting Chief Administrator, Raul Glorioso

Marinduque Airport Completion by June 20, 2018

Report ni Cong. Lord Allan Velasco:

"Dumaan po tayo sa Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) kaninang umaga bago po tayo pumasok sa session sa Kongreso at finollow-up po ng inyong lingkod kay Acting Chief Admin Raul Glorioso ang timetable ng completion ng ating Airport. Base po sa schedule na naipakita sa atin ay mukhang tuloy na tuloy na ang paglipad ng Eroplano ngayong July. It took some time, but with a little patience, magkakaroon na din tayo ng flights. Laking tulong po nito para sa pagpaunlad ng Turismo sa ating isla at mas madali at mas kumbinyenteng makakarating ang mga turista. Also, malaking tulong pag may magkaroon man ng emergency sa atin"👍🏼

Schedule of Procurement Activities in connection with runway completion.

The unfinished portion of the runway of the Marinduque Airport measuring around 147 meters in length and 30 meters in width. Photo credit: Pongkoy Rey Sarmiento Manrique

Update tungkol sa Marinduque Airport

Ayon sa impormasyon, huling sinilbihan ng Zestair ang Marinduque Airport noong mga October 2012*. Kaya't halos tatlo at kalahating taon na palang hindi nagagamit ang Marinduque Airport ng mga lokal na pasahero at mga turista.

Dahil dito ay unti-unting nawala sa mapa ng mga pangunahing resort destinations ang umaakit sa mga turista para bisitahin ang islang-lalawigan ano mang araw sa buong taon, ang Bellarocca Resort, natagurian pa itong nag-iisang 6-star resort sa Pilipinas noon.

Sinamantala naman ng DOTC at CAAP para mailagay sa ayos ang paliparan sa pamamagitan ng paglaan ng sapat na pondo, at tinutukan nga ang pagkonkreto ng airport runway bukod pa sa mga pagpapaayos ng iba pang pasilidad ng paliparan.

Nagulantang na nga lamang ang mga Marinduqueno sa balitang ang kapitolyo ng Marinduque mismo ang naging dahilan kaya hindi matapos-tapos ang paglalagay sa ayos ng runway na isang national government project.

Bukod tanging pangyayari ito na local government ang humaharang sa pagpapagawa ng isang national government project. Matagal ding nalito ang mga taga-Marinduque tungkol sa bagay na ito.

Nagpahayag sa media ang mga opisyales ng Marinduque na bubuksan na raw ang airport bago dumating ang September 2014, Isang pangakong sumablay na naman.

Panghaharang!

Hanggang naging laman na lamang ng mga pahayagan ang pagsampa ng reklamo sa Ombudsman ng Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC), sa pamamagitan ng kanilang pangulo, Martin Dino at pangalawang pangulo, Dante Jimenez kasama si Mel Go, may-ari ng construction firm na kinontrata ng DOTC para sa pagkonkreto ng isang bahagi ng runway. 

Graft charges ang isinampa laban kay Gob. Carmencita Reyes at iba pang mga opisyales ng pamahalaang panlalawigan.  Ito ay sa kadahilan ng paghaharang diumano sa pag-deliver ng graba na gagamitin para makumpleto ang airport strip. ("for blocking the delivery of gravel to be used in completing an airport strip in the said province").

Sinabi ni Go:  "Ang proyekto ay naantala dahil sa personal na interes ng mga opisyales ng Marinduque."

*May 2013 ang huling biyahe ng Zestair sa Marinduque ayon kay Sheila Evano ng Bellarocca.

Pakikipagpulong ni Cong. Lord Allan Velasco sa mga opisyales ng CAAP hinggil sa pagseserbisyo ng Marinduque Airport

Update sa Marinduque Airport

Ito ang naging pahayag ni Congressman Lord Allan Velasco sa kaniyang facebook account ngayong araw:

Had a very informative meeting regarding resumption of Flights to Marinduque this morning with the Caap Dir. Gen. Hotchkiss; Deputy Dir. Gen. Joya and Acting Chief Raul Glorioso. Seems that as of date, no Airline has yet submitted an intent that they will fly to Marinduque anytime soon. But on a good note, that even if there is a portion of the runway that is not usable, the remaining length would be good enough to accommodate a 50 seater plane. Be assured that we will do what we can to make sure that flights to Marinduque will resume soon 🙏🏻😊

Nagkaroon si Cong. Velasco ng pakikipagpulong sa mga opisyales ng CAAP na sina director general Lt. Gen. William Hotchkiss III (Ret.), deputy director for operations Gen. Rodante Joya at acting department chief Raul Glorioso.

Ayon sa kanya, wala pa hanggang sa kasalukuyan na airline company na nakapagsumite na ng kanilang balakin na silbihan ang Marinduque. 

Ayon din sa kanya, bilang isa namang positibong pangyayari, kahit may bahagi ng runway na hindi maaaring gamitin, ang natitirang haba ng runway ay sapat na para silbihan ito ng isang 50-seater plane.

Dahil dito isasagawa ang kinakailangan para maibalik ang regular na biyahe ng mga eroplano sa Marinduque sa madaling panahon.

Graft charges filed vs Marinduque governor, other officials

Charges of graft have been filed against incumbent Marinduque governor Carmencita Reyes, her vice governor and other provincial officials of Marinduque in connection with the alleged anomaly in the renovation of a provincial airport amounting to P8.95 million.

In a 12-page complaint filed before the Office of the Ombudsman in Quezon City on Monday afternoon, Melecio Go, former Sangguniang Panlalawigan member and a representative of construction firm Sargasso Construction and Development Corporation, accused Reyes and Marinduque Vice Gov. Romulo Bacorro Jr. of violating provisions of Republic Act (RA) 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and RA 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards of Public Officials as well as Dereliction of Duty.

Marinduque Airport screencap by Toby Jamilla from Google

Also slapped with the same charges were Norma Recohermoso, chairman of the provincial committee on environment and transportation, Harold Red, chairman of the committee on public works, lawyers Miguel Ongsiako and Fe Garcia, and the members of the provincial mining board.

Go was accompanied by Volunteer Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) founder and president Dante Jimenez and VACC chairman Martin Diño in the filing of the complaint.

“The VACC finds the complaint substantial and the complaint credible and therefore agreed to file the complaint along with Mr. Go,” Jimenez said in a statement.

In his complaint, Go said the respondents deliberately blocked the delivery of gravel to be used for the continuation of the construction of 147-meter concrete runway of the Marinduque Airport, an P8.95 million development project awarded to Sargasso by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

Go alleged that there has been a dubious delay in the issuance of the necessary delivery permits “so a contractor of choice will take over the project.”

“The project was delayed because of personal interest of the Marinduque officials,” Go said.

Go further recounted that after Sargasso was able to obtain the necessary permits from the DOTC as well as from the provincial mining regulatory board, the construction work was still blocked by the provincial officials.

Go said he wrote letters to the offices of Reyes and Bacorro inquiring about the cause of the delay of the resumption of construction work and requesting for an investigation and hearing. However, the two officials allegedly did not act on his request.

Go, in his complaint, also urged the Office of the Ombudsman to issue a preventive suspension order against the accused while the investigation of their case is ongoing. —Elizabeth Marcelo/KG, GMA News

Also read:

2013 funds for Marinduque Airport: P80M

Marinduque Airport badly rocks

World's top 10 islands 2013 - Will Marinduque make a comeback?

Koh Tao, Surat Thani, Thailand

Readers of the largest crowd-sourced tavel site, TripAdvisor, named the 10 most beautiful islands for 2013. The world’s top 10 islands in TripAdvisor’s Traveller’s Choice Award 2013 are as follows:

Ambergris Caye, Belize; St. John, US Virgin islands; Bora Bora, Society Islands (French Polynesia); San Juan Island, Washington, USA; Santorini, Cyclades, Greece; Isla Mujeres (off the coast of Mexico); Moorea, Society Islands (French Polynesia); Koh Tao, Surat Thani, Thailand; Easter Island (Chile); and Nosy Be, Antsiranana Province (off coast of Madagascar).

That’s the choice of world travelers themselves. But three years ago and by other travel watchers, Marinduque was being bruited about to be the next tourist hotspot in Asia and this 'little' Marinduque was No. 2, remember? How did that come about? 

In April 2010 during the Holy Week, Senator Bongbong Marcos, Jr. visited Marinduque with his family and made a statement about the need to promote the poverty-stricken island of Marinduque as a major tourist destination. He cited Marinduque’s vast resources and natural beauty. “Marinduque is known worldwide for its colorful Moriones Festival and that’s good, but it has so much to offer in terms of world-class attractions and facilities that we must capitalize to boost tourism…” Read. (I was busy rehearsing a passion play, “Ang Kristo: Pasyondula” then but was tasked at that time by provincial administrator Juan Roberto Abling to also coordinate Marcos’  visits to the municipalities, which I, of course, did). 

By May 2010 CNN International had come up with an article stating that Marinduque could very well be “the next tourist hotspot in Asia”, alongside Phu Quoc in Vietnam, Hainan Island in China and the Ho Tram Strip in Vietnam where billion dollar investments for resorts were funneled by their governments and developers. “For years, Marinduque has been under the foreign tripper’s radar, but not for long, if politicos and developers have their way. The laid-back island province is now being touted as the Philippines’ next holiday haven…” It also cited Luzon officials who are on a crusade to raise the area’s public profile quoting Marcos that “once the Marinduque air and sea ports are modernized, larger volume of local and foreign tourists can be lured to visit its little-known but awesome white sand beaches.” Read

In June 2010, also CNN came up with “25 killer things to do this summer” that recommended visiting “one of Asia’s next gen tourist hotspot”, namely Marinduque and the other places in Vietnam and China – “up and coming tourist hotspots… amazing summer destinations, each for unique reasons.” Read

By January 2011, The West Australian’s John Borthwick had chosen “10 of the world’s best islands” with Marinduque yes Marinduque on the No. 2 spot. Sicily (Italy) came first, Marinduque second, followed by Reunion (Indian Ocean), Manihi (French Polynesia), Maldives, Phu Quoc (Vietnam) Koh Lanta (Thailand), Zanzibar (Tanzania) and Santorini (Greece). Said he: “Little Marinduque, a short flight south of Manila, is one of the loveliest islands in the Philippines. It’s a quiet place of waterfalls, villages, jungles. A butterfly farm and old Spanish churches – in short, authentic regional Philippines.” Read

Elle Canada followed suit, Its choices entitled “Travel destinations: The new hot spots” picked out top islands by continent or island groups. It listed among others, Punta del Este (for South America), Bonaire for Carribean, Marinduque for Asia and Hvar for Europe. “There are no Starbucks on this volcanic Philippine island – life in Marinduque calls for a calmer pace (Think white-sand beaches and sulphuric hot springs)…” Read

This blogger (left) with former Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim and
Cong. Lord Allan Velasco as  DOT staff look on.

I had the opportunity to present these facts, together with Cong. Lord Allan Velasco to then Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim during a Holy Week 2011 visit to Marinduque so the latter could help press buttons for the needed rehab of the Marinduque Airport. Or else, the Philippines’ Marinduque could be forgotten by travel watchers before it could even take off as a tourism hot spot, I argued. Lim was awed by the many amazing things about Marinduque. For personal reasons, however,  (wanting to spend more time with his family that the demands of his job apparently could not allow him), Lim resigned from that cabinet post in August 2011.

But the Marinduque Airport rehab is to be completed this year, 2013, according to DOTC and CAAP, two agencies of govrnment that could really make it happen. With the tourist influx it would bring throughout the year, etc. etc. Marinduque could truly make a definitive comeback, don't you think?

DOTC and CAAP's best effort in improving Marinduque Airport; Reyes still wants multi-million peso loan for airport

CAAP: "best effort in improving Marinduque Airport..."

Following confirmation by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) of fund allocation for the development of the Marinduque Airport, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP),  also confirmed its allocation of separate funds to complete the concreting of the deteriorated asphalt pavement of the Marinduque Airport runway.

The amounts of P 10-Million and P 30.68-Million have been allocated from CAAP’s corporate budget for CY 2012 and CY 2013 respectively. In a letter to Cong. Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco, CAAP’s Head Executive Assistant, MGen Artemio G. Orozco AFP (Ret), the latter assured the Congressman that CAAP is exerting its best effort in improving the Marinduque Airport which is under its watch “for safe and efficient air travel for the riding public”.

Meanwhile, the provincial government of Marinduque appeared bent on pursuing the loan it hopes to enter into with the Philippine National Bank (PNB), for the very same purpose of concreting the deteriorated portion of the airport runway.

In SP Resolution no. 762-2012 enacting Provincial Ordinance No. 102 approved by Gov. Carmencita O. Reyes and notarized on October 16, 2012, as support document for the loan, the provincial government contended that ”ZestAir  is pulling out of Marinduque in October this year; while other airline companies do not want to fly to Marinduque because of the short and deteriorated runway”.  Zestair, however, has continued servicing the airport with flights to and from Manila. Another airline is, likewise expected to also introduce new flight services to Marinduque. Zestair earlier announced that its reason for originally considering the removal of Marinduque was merely in compliance with former DOTC Sec. Mar Roxas II’s directive to reduce flights out of Manila. Read.

Gov. Reyes: "Php 300-M is our credit line with PNB..."

A prominent socio-civic organization, Marinduque First Saturday Movers has strongly opposed the loan proposal through a petition signed by more than two thousand registered voters. Among the reasons cited by the group is that “the proponent of the loan has no clear idea on the exact amount they need and it follows that they do not have, again, a clear idea on what projects are to be undertaken” in addition to the fact that “the repair of airport runway is a national government concern and repairs should be undertaken by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and not by the local government”.

Seven board members of the provincial government who voted affirmatively to the loan Resolution/Ordinance were Melecio Go, Allan Nepomuceno, Harold Red, Mark Anthony Seno, Eleuterio Raza, Jr., Epifania Rosas and Reynaldo Salvacion. Dissenters were Amelia Aguirre, George Alino II, and Lauren Rosales, while Jaime Jasper Lim abstained.

The Sangguniang Bayan ng Gasan also issued a resolution opposing the loan maintaining that it will aggravate the province’s financial situation and that the amount being loaned “has no clear program of works and “the timing of the loan is suspect”, apparently referring to the forthcoming elections. Read.

DOTC: Funds allocated for expansion of apron,
rehabilitation of PTB, concrete paving of runway

Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Marinduque:
"Whereas, Zest Air is pulling out of Marinduque in October this year;
while other airline companies do not want to fly to Marinduque because of the
short and deteriorated runway..."

ZestAir Marinduque daily flight schedule from October 28, 2012

New ZestAir daily flight schedule Manila - Marinduque and Marinduque - Manila 

According to ZestAir's website www.flyzest.com the new Marinduque flight schedule 

starting October 28, 2012 onwards is as follows: 

Manila - Marinduque (DAILY) ETD 1205, ETA 1255; 

Marinduque - Manila (DAILY) ETD 1330, ETA 1420  

2013 Funds for Marinduque Airport: P80M

Marinduque Airport.

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has affirmed to Congressman Lord Allan Q. Velasco the allocation of funds for the development of Marinduque Airport in the CY 2013, amounting to a total of Php 80-M. The scope of works to be undertaken are the expansion of apron (Php 20-M), the rehabilitation of PTB (Php 6-M),the concrete paving of taxiway (Php 4-M), all of which are to be funded by DOTC totaling Php 30-M), and the continuation of improvement of runway (Php 50-M) to be funded from Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP CY 2013).

In a letter dated Sept. 24, 2012, to Cong. Velasco, Assistant Secretary for Planning, Atty. Jaime Raphael C. Feliciano also informed the Congressman that for the continued development of the Marinduque Airport, DOTC has further endorsed Velasco’s request to CAAP, the agency directly responsible for the financing and development of national airports, for consideration in the preparation of their annual program.

There was local controversy that erupted here when the provincial government of Marinduque, through Governor Carmencita O. Reyes, announced that a bank loan has been negotiated by her, part of which is the rehabilitation of the airport runway in the amount of Php 100-M. A petition filed in August and September 2012 by concerned citizens led by the Marinduque First Saturday Movers, Inc. (MFSMI), an NGO composed of prominent Marinduquenos for the repeal/withdrawal of three resolutions passed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Marinduque concernng the loan, has apparently been ignored up to the present. The proposed loan has totalled Php 300-M.

Marinduque Movers stressed in its petition that "repair of our Airport should not be undertaken by the provincial government", further contesting Gov. Reyes' statement "that the P100M from the proceeds of the planned loan to be spent for the improvement of the Marinduque Airport shall be reimbursed by the DOTC is hard to believe as it will contradict government established rules and regulations on expenditures". 

Proposed loan premised on a pack of lies? (Part 3)

They don't see eye to eye?
(The octogenarian Gov. Carmencita O. Reyes and 
the youthful Cong. Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco)

What again is the P300M loan for?

Reyes: “Third, that’s for a Sports Complex. Many LGUs have obtained bank loans to promote tourism in their area..(blah-blah-blah).”

The trouble with her perceived enemy (Cong. Velasco, who else?), is that the latter had actually provided PDAF funding and tapped other fund sources, for the construction of a Sports Complex in Sta. Cruz; by all means a similar construction must be undertaken for another such complex to drive home the idea that “I have something like that complex, too”.

Reyes: “Fourth, that’s for Education. Pareng Edmund’s scholarship program must be revived…” (“Tulad ng palaging sinasabi ni Edmund, kaya marami siyang scholarship, ang karunungan ang siyang susi ng kaunlaran”).

The script dictates that the people of Marinduque must never be given the impression that the scholarship program of their perceived political enemy (Cong. Velasco, who else?), is working, and working well, openly admitted by a high ranking school official of the state college, for one, as the ‘biggest number of scholars granted to their students in the school’s history’.

Reviving a son’s previous scholarship program at the approach of elections to the extent that a provincial loan must be obtained simply sounds outrageous. Nonetheless, such Reyes scholarships are now being distributed out of capitol funds at the Reyes residence in the Boac Poblacion to college recipients who must be accompanied by immediate family members (who must be political supporters), in receiving the cash as shown in this photo taken Aug. 29, 2012:

What about the Php 300-million Term Loan with PNB?

Reyes said: “That’s just a Credit Line for P300M, we will only borrow what we need (sang-ayon sa kakailanganin lamang); the rest of the amount will be used only as “paghahanda, contingency, kung sakaling hindi makapaglabas ng pananalapi ang DOTC (for airport runway); “Opisyal na ipinahatid ng pamunuan ng PNB ang kanilang kahandaan na pagkalooban ang Lalawigan ng Marinduque ng Credit Line…”

But, in the first place, was the Governor of Marinduque authorized to negotiate for the amount (P300M), she proudly confirmed over the radio, when in fact the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Marinduque in its original resolution specified the amount of P250-M, later amending it to P150-M as broadcast over the radio and confirmed by the Bokales, with a sudden shift in purpose when a public outcry got louder?

Remember that the SP initially specified that the loan is for ‘road network infrastructure development project’, then altered the words through a new resolution to ‘road network infrastructure projects and for other priority socio-economic development programs’, then deciding to alter it again to just ‘P100M for Marinduque Airport Runway and P50M for farm-to-market roads.’ Topsy-turvy flip-flops, and there’s more!

Are these tell-tale signs of an abnormal and nervous rush to just produce crispy moolah for campaign purposes? Re-elections must be guaranteed with money changing hands as early as now; the filing of certificates of candidacy comes in just a month from now, as we know. It’s probably really difficult to turn down an alleged P1-M (in CDF?) for each Bokal once the loan is consummated?

The PNB deal.

Meanwhile, she, the Governor immediately went to work and, guess what? She actually negotiated with PNB for a clear-cut P300-M Term Loan! And contrary to what we’ve been told about the bank’s mere conveyance of its “kahandaan”, readiness vis-a-vis the Marinduque application, the PNB letter dated July 26, 2012, that she, Gov. Reyes, talked about was to convey to the Capitol “that PNB Executive Committee has approved a P300 Million Term loan in your favor to finance the Construction of the Legislative Building, Convention Center, Sports Complex and Various infrastructure/development projects, available until Dec. 31, 2012…” with terms and conditions specified, such as the Term Loan of P300M, payable in 10 years at 6.75% interest per annum and “any amount in excess of the P300M Term Loan facilities shall be for the account of the LGU”, among nine other specific conditions.

But wait! Legislative Building?  Convention Center? Sports Complex and various infrastructure/development projects? Available until Dec. 31, 2012? So you get the impression that the plot is to dispose of or stack up money for all these ever-changing project proposals in just a couple of months or so, say October, November, December 2012? As election ban is in the offing?

It turns out that after four decades of almost complete political control of a small island province with only six municipalities, the incumbent Marinduque Governor appears to now profess to have found enlightenment: “Maikli na ang panahon mga anak, hindi natin maisusulong ang proyektong pangkaunlaran na tanging minimithi ng ating kalalawigan ng sabay-sabay kung tayo ay hindi uutang sa bangko…. Ako po ay isang ina, hindi ko po isusubo ang aking mga anak…”, she said.

Award.

“Magtiwala kayo sa inyong Nanay”, she says again, then proceeds to brag about having received an award from DILG, “Seal of Good Housekeeping”. “Bukod pa dito, ang inyong Nanay ay tumanggap kay President Pnoy Aquino noong Oktubre 2011 ng Award for Good Governance”, stressing every word with such aplomb.

Incidentally, the assessment period as basis for that award was the immediately preceding year (i.e. 2010 for the 2011 award). The criteria included innovations introduced by the LGU within the last 3 years (2008-2010 in this case). But she took her oath as governor only in July 2010, and may lay claim to the last six-month portion of the assessment period. The previous administration that she vigorously attacked (nilimas, isinangla, ginahasa), is therefore intrinsic part of that award, which incidentally is in the name of the LGU and not in the name of any ‘Nanay’, repeated ad nauseam.

Back to Credit Line.

Credit Line? Come on. What credit line, repeated in the staged show at least seven times, is she talking about? Let’s check for definitions, then:

What is a Credit Line?

“A credit line is money available for you to borrow. Instead of borrowing a specific amount of money and paying it back over time, the bank allows you to borrow any amount you need (up to your credit limit), whenever you need it.

“Contrast the credit line to a loan, where you borrow a fixed amount of money and start paying back the loan (or 'amortizing') with each payment.”

Source: http://banking.about.com/od/loans/a/whatcreditline.htm

And what is 'Term Loan'?

“A loan from a bank for a specific amount that has a specified repayment schedule and a floating interest rate. Term loans almost always mature between one and 10 years.”

Source: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/t/termloan.asp#axzz25aHQnpMi

Without a shadow of doubt it is a P300 Million Term Loan!

Misrepresentation? Abuse of authority? Wholesale lies? Blatant attempt at potential technical malversation? Again?

Have the Honorable SP Members been had? (“Maraming maraming salamat sa aking mga anak na nasa ating Sangguniang Panlalawigan, mga bokal natin….tunay nga kayo, Nanay nga ang tingin ninyo sa akin”). Di na rin natuto?

But are they engaged now in a race at troubleshooting of some sort to legalize their blunders? Of course, there’d be arguments that no official agreement has been signed yet, nothing’s been ratified yet by the SP. But shall we just throw up our hands in frustration, or just simply throw up, and there… they go?

And what about the untruths conveyed by the parties concerned to We, The People? Just let it go and pretend we never heard of them, only to be repeated over and over again since we are perceived by her and by them to be ignorant, fearful constituents?

So they now in fact, and very soon for the rest, go the rounds of the campaign trail, while we watch them laugh, tickled to the bone for getting away with their deeds. Just like a walk in the park, it is, plotting to conduct and promote baluktot na daan, in direct defiance to Pnoy’s ‘tuwid na daan’, towards what is now seen as potentially the craziest, most expensive Marinduque election campaign of all time?

She’ll most likely go to great lengths without relent to still pull this one off? Shall we just watch, or speak out as one - for once - against it, against this negative nonsense, this pack of lies, or what now?

"Glorify a lie, legalize a lie, arm and equip a lie, consecrate a lie with solemn forms and awful penalties, and after all it is nothing but a lie. It rots a land and corrupts a people like any other lie, and by and by the white light of God's truth shines clear through it, and shows it to be a lie."  - E.H. Chapin, Living Words