BISTADO

‘Power Grab/The Art of Credit Grabbing’

ZAMBOANGA CITY - The Facebook page “Youth volunteers for Mayor Celso Lobregat” has questioned Congressman Mannix Dalipe’s role in the energization of the Pangapuyan Island where the lawmaker appears to have claimed credit for the project.

Dalipe, in his October 9 Facebook post, wrote the following: “Tiene ya kuryente el Isla de Pangapuyan.” Electrification of Pangapuyan Island | October 09, 2021. We make things happen. Team DALIPE - Team Performance.”

And he continued to thank officials of the National Power Corporation for the project and said: “Thank you Secretary Al Cusi, NPC President and CEO Donie Marcos, NPC SPUG VP Larry Sabellina, National Power Corporation Mindanao Operations Manager Engr. Yahcob Darayan, Engr. Conrad Isahac, Engr. Omar Antocan, Engr. Richard Brique.”

But the Youth volunteers for Mayor Celso Lobregat, which was previously marked as “paid by Celso Lobregat” reacted to Dalipe’s social media post and wrote this on October 24: “BISTADO: Power Grab/The Art of Credit Grabbing. Posted in Cong. Mannix Dalipe-Page Oct. 9, 2021: Energization of Pangapuyan Island. “We make things happen.” Team DALIPE - Team Performance.”

And it continued to say that “as early as January 22, 2018 then Congressman Celso Lobregat announced the start of this project. And on February 15, 2019, in an NPC/SPUG Forum, it was reported that the status of Pangapuyan Energization was 59.95% completed.”

It added: “It was already happening LONG BEFORE you claim. We make things happen,” referring to the Pangapuyan project.

The Youth volunteers for Mayor Celso Lobregat also included in its post a news article entitled “Napocor to energize 5 island villages in Zamboanga” which appeared January 22, 2018 on the website of the state-run Philippine News Agency.

The article reads: “Five island barangays here, including the tourist destination Greater Sta. Cruz Island will soon be energized by the National Power Corporation (Napocor) through the Small Power Utilities Group (SPUG). First district Rep. Celso Lobregat made this announcement on Monday, citing Lawyer Rogel Teves, Napocor Vice President for Power Engineering Service, informed (sic) him that the Napocor has already awarded the project to the winning bidder.

The five island barangays to be energized are Tictabon, Manalipa, Tumalutap, Pangapuyan, and the Greater Sta. Cruz island, which falls under the political jurisdiction of Barangay Sta. Barbara. The contract to energize the five islands is worth PhP41.6 million to be completed within 270 calendar days. The implementation of the project will commence on the (sic) first quarter of this year.
Modular diesel generators will be installed by Napocor to provide electricity to the five island barangays. “I am glad that the long wait is over. Our constituents living in those five island barangays can soon enjoy the services of electricity,” Lobregat said.

Lobregat is pushing the implementation of the energization project as a member for (sic) the majority of the House Committee on Energy.”

One Netizen, Jasmin Cabrezos, who was following the post of the Youth volunteers for Mayor Celso Lobregat, tried to defend Dalipe and said: “Do some research before posting, Pangapuyan is under District 2 which is under the Congressional district of Cong. Mannix.”

But it was promptly answered by the sponsored page of “Celso L. Lobregat” and it was presumed that the veteran politician penned the following reply: “Jason Lim, as the Vice Chairman of the House Committee of Appropriations defending the Department of Energy and its related Offices and Agencies, we pushed for, prioritized, and intervened for the energization of our island barangays and sitios in far flung mainland barangays whether in District 1 or District 2. Please verify with Napacor or even ask Cong. Lilia Nuño about these. She would ask (for) my assistance on many projects and I would gladly intervene for the good and progress of our City. I would also report this in my yearly Congressional report. I can provide you (with) copies if you like.”

Cabrezos said she would like to have a copy of Lobregat’s Congressional report.

Another Netizen, Gio Perez, reacted to the reply of “Celso L. Lobregat” and wrote this message: “Celso L. Lobregat Sir, your reply is just a motherhood statement. You carry the burden to prove your statement and we need detailed information to convince us that it is ONLY YOU who pushed for (it). What are these (sic) detailed information? Whom did you talked (sic) with in NAPOCOR? Your congressional funds from 2016-2019, and most importantly a justification on how can a 1st District congressman allocate funding for projects in another District (2)? It is not enough to say that…us should verify with such agencies, it is you who has the burden. Please provide us (with) a copy of your congressional report.”

The Napocor said Pangapuyan is the first of the five island-barangays in Zamboanga that the government-owned and controlled corporation has energized. The 10kw diesel power plant in Pangapuyan is also the first in Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi provinces where NPC serves as distribution utility. The facility was formally switched on October 9 and will benefit hundreds of islanders, mostly fishermen and seaweed farmers who lauded Napocor for the project.

The inauguration of the power plant was led by Yahcob Darayan, Napocor’s Department Manager for Small Power Utilities Group - Mindanao Operations. Among those who witnessed the inauguration were Conrad Isahac, NPC’s Division Manager for Western Mindanao Operations; and Arnel Rodriguez, Omar Antocan of the NPC’s Power Engineering Services, including Richard Brique, the power plant’s head; and Barangay Captain Khadafy Jailani.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said the Pangapuyan diesel plant is an “Energy Project of National Significance for Commercial Phase” and in consonance with the policy thrusts and specific goals of the Philippine Energy Plan of the Department of Energy.

The island-barangays of Tumalutap are also expected to have its own 40kw diesel power plant; Great Santa Cruz Island with 10kw diesel power plant and Tictabon Island with 90kw diesel power plant – all under the proponent of the NPC.

It was not the first time that Dalipe allegedly claimed government projects as his or his initiatives, in Barangay Tetuan, huge tarpaulins of the lawmaker can be seen on the fence of the newly constructed classrooms at the Tetuan Central School at Estrada Street where the government had a road asphalt project. A photo of Dalipe was also on the tarpaulin saying “this is where your taxes go” as if it was his congressional project. (Zamboanga Post)