Presidential adviser to bring urgent Bicol matters to Duterte’s attention

By Jose B. Perez, Editor NAGA CITY --- Undersecretary Marvel C. Clavecilla, presidential adviser for Bicol affairs, assured members of the local business chamber here that he will be sending President Rodrigo Roa Duterte a letter informing the latter of his talk with them regarding four important matters that require the President’s immediate attention. Clavecilla, who was the guest of honor and speaker of the 2nd quarterly general membership meeting and business forum of the Metro Naga Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCCI) last Thursday, June 7, at Avenue Plaza Hotel, said that while City Mayor Bongat had earlier aired his desire to have the Naga Airport rehabilitated in order to provide Naguenos with more trips and convenient access to air travel, he also had with him a letter (which he showed to the audience) that he would send to the President. The presidential adviser said that the same letter that he already drafted and signed must also be co-signed by all the members present and their guests, complete with their addresses and contact numbers, which the members did, for the President’s immediate action and resolution. Clavecilla’s letter will bring to the President’s attention these four urgent concerns: 1. The immediate fast tracking of the upgrading and re-orientation of the Naga Airport, including the installation of night flight take-off and landing facilities and equipment; 2. To expedite full operation of the three constructed buildings for the Cancer Center and Cardio Center at the Naga-based Bicol Medical Center, inclusive of the high-tech equipment needed for its optimized utilization which remain non-operational for the Past 3 years and wastage of its P1.2B funding; 3. To operationalize and fund the rehabilitation of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) South Luzon from Paco, Manila to Legazpi and Sorsogon Cities to spur the economic growth of the Bicol Region; and 4. Approval of the proposed Quezon-Bicol Expressway (QBEX), spanning the elength of Lucena City to Sorsogon City that involves a 300-km 6-lane roadway, under the aegis of the Philippine National Construction Company. Clavecilla, a classmate of the President in San Beda College, reminded that the afore-described concerns are in line with the Duterte administration’s Build, Build, Build Project, which he said if implemented will be the President’s lasting legacy to the Bicol region. The presidential adviser advised his audience that his letter will reach the office of the President and for good measure copies, along with the chamber members’ signatures will also be furnished Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Special Assistant to the President Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go. During his dialogue with the local business leaders, Clavecilla, a former RTC judge, expressed surprise why in the early part of this year the new buildings at the Bicol Medical Center in Naga City, one rising as high as 8 storeys, was formally inaugurated by no less than Health Secretary Francisco Duque, when all such building were barren and empty of the necessary equipment and facilities. “What were inaugurated were empty buildings with none of any hospital equipment,” he exclaimed short of saying that what was inaugurated was a white elephant. He even hinted of allegations that the various multi-million peso hospital equipment intended for the Bicol Medical Center here – the biggest in government hospital in South Luzon – had been diverted, for unexplained reason, to the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital in Legazpi City by a ‘scheming’ congressman from Albay. He said he will investigate the veracity of the allegation because “if true, it will be unfair to the people of Naga City and Camaarines Sur.”