Negros Occidental Gov. Isidro Zayco and Candoni Mayor Cicero Borromeo appear to have mended their fences and were very cordial to each other at yesterday’s Peace and Order Council meeting at the Capitol in Bacolod City.

“I am giving you the opportunity to be part of history,” Borromeo told the governor in seeking assistance for projects in his town, to which the later responded, “It would be my pleasure to be part of history”. This drew chuckles from the other mayors.

At a previous Provincial Development Council meeting when Zayco was still vice governor, the two had engaged in a heated exchange of words.

Borromeo yesterday sought the assistance of the provincial government in the construction of an extension for the Negros State College of Agriculture and in the use of a bulldozer to create roads for a squatter relocation site on properties that he said he personally donated in Candoni.

Zayco asked the mayor to submit his project proposals so they could be acted on.

Borromeo said he donated two hectares for the state college extension and will provide lots to as many as 500 squatters.

Borromeo said Rep. Genaro Alvarez (Neg. Occ., 6th district) had assisted him in subdividing the property for the squatters, so he was seeking Zayco’s help, too, to put balance to the assistance give to his town.

Asked if he had mended his fences with the governor, the mayor said “We can be enemies politically, we have to be in partnership when it comes to public service.”

Zayco said he has no ill feelings towards Borromeo and the provincial government, as long as it can afford it, provides counterpart funds for towns and cities in need of project assistance.

He said the request of Borromeo for assistance for a school and squatter relocation are valid.  

At the POC meeting Moises Padilla Mayor Francisco Nazareno asked the provincial government for assistance in the building of structures for a relocation center for residents in preparation for an eruption of  Mt. Kanlaon Volcano.

Zayco said the proposal of Nazareno would have to be studied as it could become a white elephant, Mt. Kanlaon is so unpredictable and there may not be any need for evacuation in many years.

But  the  assistance of the province could be given to the planned Negros Occidental State College of Agriculture of the town, the structures of which could possibly be used in case of an evacuation, Zayco said.*CPG

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