RCF says insurgency was solved, projects were accomplished FORMER Ilocos Norte Governor Rodolfo C. Fariñas stressed that major problems in the province including the then rising insurgency was solved during his 10-year incumbency, paving the way for economic success to the province. According to Fariñas, he said Ilocos Norte was suffering from insurgency problems in the 1980s, wherein the communist movement was then at its peak during the Marcos administration. He related that it was at these times when the Bangui Massacre occurred. Aside from this, he also mentioned that also at that time the Laoag airport was barricaded and closed, resulting in the low turnout of tourists in the province. In view of this, Fariñas said it was during his term that most of these problems had been solved, contrary to claims of outgoing Ilocos Norte Governor Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. that he had no accomplishments during his term that lasted from the late 1980s to the late 1990s. He then turned it around saying it was Marcos who had no accomplishment during Marcos’ own nine-year term. Fariñas then enumerated the projects accomplished during his term as governor which included 200 barangay halls and basketball courts all over the province. The basketball courts also served as solar dryer for farmers’ harvests. Fariñas also scored the current peace and order situation in the province which he said pales in comparison during his term as he emphasized that three mayors had been killed in the province in quick succession. During his term he said these high profile crimes were not even an issue even if there was a strong NPA presence at the time. “Ngem ita agra-ira iti pamma-patay ata saan met a rum-rumuar ni Apo Gobernador. He is an absentee governor because iti gobernador, masapul a mapan dita Kapitolyo ken tapno mapan dagiti tao no adda masapul da. It is also the duty of the governor to visit its component units once at least every six months. Ket napadasan na ngata?” Fariñas said. The former governor, now running again for the same post, also emphasized that it was during his term that the provincial government scholars program was initiated and that he was able to construct several projects without borrowing money. He cited the Laoag City-Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena which was constructed solely out of government funds. It was also during Fariñas’ term that the provincial hospital, or the Governor Roque B. Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital (GRBASMH), was improved with the addition of a new building with air-conditioned rooms. “Ket idi nai-ospital ni mayor Michael, nangitug-togot kami iti air-con mi a bukod ta perdi met aminen, pati inidoro and even some of the facilities. Ammu ngarud ni gobernador no di na met mapan kitaen dagitoy,” he added. He then stated that Marcos could have just improved these projects but instead he opted to borrow more than P400 million just for the construction of a hotel and convention center. He also said that always attended flag raising ceremonies during his term, accept and entertain phone-in questions coming the public, and also entertain ordinary people in his office. “The governor is also insinuating nga adda pinaturungak iti paltog yanta Kapitolyo a binogbog. All my cases were acquitted. Ket isu da ngarud, dagitay nagrud kaso da a plunder?” he asked. He also wondered where the Department of Public Safety (DPS) vehicles acquired during his term are now. “Where are the DPS vehicles now? Isu nga agraira iti krimen ta idi tiempo tayo adda da latta nga agwan-wanawan. Dagitoy ket pinukaw amin ni governor,” Fariñas noted. The windmill project in Bangui, Ilocos Norte was also scored by Fariñas saying this was constructed supposedly for the people of Ilocos Norte to have lower power rates but this did not happen. “But look what happened. Since nag-operate iti windmill, ngimminat kuryente iti probinsya tayo. Isu ngarud ti ikkis ken anel-el dagiti umili, nalak-laka kuma iti pagbayad tayo iti kuryente ta angin la ngarud iti mang ud-uddog daytoy windmill ngem gapu ta immutang da met ipabaklay da met kadagitoy member-consumers-en ti INEC,” Fariñas explained. The former governor also took the task the claim of Marcos that it was during his administration that the Sabo Dam project in the province was initiated. “Governor Marcos will you please check the records. The Sabo Dam was initiated during the time of former Pres. Corazon Aquino when I was the governor under the leadership of Winnie Monsod. No ibaga ni Governor Marcos nga isut nang-paipan ta Sabo Dam, that is a clear case of credit-grabbing on his part,” Fariñas said. In view of all these, Fariñas challenged Marcos and his gubernatorial rival Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Michael M. Keon to a debate for all people to know who did what during their respective incumbencies. Dominic B. dela Cruz
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