BREDCO takes upper hand

During the weekend, I must admit the controversy over the Bacolod Realty Development Corporation takeover ordinance overshadowed the most poignant story of the interment of former Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Montelibano Jr., who was also former governor of 10 years.

Perhaps, the reason for that was that Montelibano was buried in the family mausoleum in Hacienda Binitin, far away from the madding crowd of the city. And it was Batanes Bishop Camilo Gregorio who celebrated the Requiem Mass.

A severe backache prevented my participation in the burial of Junior. But it also gave me the opportunity to tune in on former administrator Wilson Gamboa present a statesmanlike approach to the issue of the BREDCO.

It was nice to listen to somebody come up with a dispassionate recitation of the issues behind the BREDCO takeover ordinance initiated by the Voltes Five of the Sangguniang Panlungsod.

Gamboa pointed out that the SP five and their sympathizers were focused only on the low rental – P800,000 per annum and the BREDCO failure to up the ante based on the Comprehensive Revised Reclamation Agreement.

But Gamboa pointed out that it was paying attention to a miniscule issue. They failed to take into the economic benefits to the city in terms of taxes, money velocity, jobs, and others. In short, they should have instead offered Bredco what could be done to improve its paying ability. A takeover would actually prove disastrous and give a non-signal to the business community.

In short, it was shortsighted sight that prompted the passage of the controversial ordinance.

He also praised BREDCO chairman Simplicio (Sammy) Palanca as a visionary. The only one who had the courage to carry out what he thought was good for Bacolod .

The elder Gamboa, of course, was not bound by the ethical rules of the SP. His son, Junior, however, had to confine himself to discussing the inequality, illegality and unconstitutionality of the ordinance. He stressed that he respected the outlook of those who had voted for the measure.

But he did bring out an interesting point. Since it was a money ordinance which involved the P800,000 rental of BREDCO, Junior said it would have required a vote of eight to have the measure approved.

At any rate, he did agree that its approval could immediately trigger what Palanca himself had called a prolonged and no-win legal struggle. Of course, Bacolod will be the principal loser.

The implications are terrible to contemplate.*

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