By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent
REP. Rufus Rodriguez of the city’s 2nd District yesterday revealed his plan to transfer the city’s seat of government to Lumbia even as he joined a militant group in frowning over the prospects of the old airport being used as a site for US military facilities.
Rodriguez said this a day after the militant League of Filipino Students (LFS) sharply criticized Mayor Oscar Moreno over his pronouncement that he had no problems with the possibility that the Lumbia airport would be offered to the US military as a place where it can station personnel and set up facilities in order to store matériel and supplies in line with the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca). The Supreme Court (SC) recently gave the controversial agreement the green light.
The congressman, one of Moreno’s challengers in the upcoming mayoral elections, said he would oppose moves to allow the US military to build and maintain facilities in the city under the Edca.
The Lumbia airport, he said, is an ideal site for a new city hall in order to spur economic activities in the rural village.
Rodriguez said the seat of government should be transferred because of the vehicular traffic congestion on Capistrano and Gearlan streets.
Parking, added Rodriguez, has also become a major problem in the area.
A similar proposal by erstwhile mayor Vicente Emano to transfer city hall to Carmen due to the same reasons cited by Rodriguez was met with sharp criticisms and strong opposition years ago. Emano subsequently dropped the plan to build a city hall complex at the present city dump in Carmen.
Rodriguez said his plan to move city hall to Lumbia is one of the reasons why he authored a House bill to seek the donation of the 574-hectare Lumbia property by the national government to the local government.
He said the property belongs to the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Phils. (Caap).
The Lumbia area, according to Rodriguez, could be transformed into a commercial hub.
Rodriguez proposed a referendum so that Cagayanons could decide if they want city hall moved to Lumbia or not.
He said he has another site for a new city hall in mind: Tablon.
“Duha ka lugar ang akong gitun-an nga didto i-transfer ang city hall. Either sa Lumbia airport or sa Barangay Tablon, atbang sa Nestle Philippines,” Rodriguez said.
He said the Tablon property is private but can be bought by the government.
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