MindanaoToday.com | Klarex to pay XU P7.8M for use of dorms during Oca’s term
By: Jigger Jerusalem
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Mayor Rolando “Klarex” Uy has promised to pay P7.8 million in unpaid bills incurred by the previous administration for the use of Xavier University’s dormitories at Searsolin and Manresa facilities as city isolation units from March 2020 to April 2022.
Uy, who’s on his first term in office as city mayor, made this commitment after Xavier billed the local government for obligations that accumulated for 25 months during the time of former mayor Oscar Moreno.
According to the press statement sent by BenCyrus Ellorin, Uy’s political spokesperson, to the media Thursday, Jan. 11, the city mayor’s office received the letter from Xavier billing the city government for these unpaid bills on Jan. 3, 2024, consisting of P3,954,225 for the use of the Searsolin dorm and P3,581,140 for the Manresa dorm for a total of P7,805,365.
The issue surfaced after Moreno criticized Uy for allegedly not honoring obligations to contractors and suppliers. The two used to be political allies but had a falling out after Uy won the mayoralty in 2023.
“In context, it is hypocritical of the former mayor to criticize the current administration when the previous administration at City Hall reneged on paying obligation like this one from the Jesuit-run university,” Ellorin said.
“How come these bills piled for 25 months during the previous administration?” he added.
The city government’s budget, accounting, and finance departments are preparing the requirements for the payment of these obligations incurred during Moreno’s time.
Lawyer Hilario Roy Raagas, city administrator, said the local government would also make necessary representations with the university to clear this issue and further strengthen the partnership between the city government and the Jesuit-run university. (MT)
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