Delicadeza is a Spanish-derived term commonly used in the Filipino language. It is a value deeply ingrained in Philippine culture and refers to a sense of appropriateness, decency, and discretion in one's actions and decisions.
What is an example of a delicadeza? The website entitled “Quora” gives this example:
One who has delicadeza is scrupulous to a fault. For example, if one were chairperson of a parish church fundraising and one of the prizes were given to one's son, s/he should return it par delicadeza (for the sake of delicadeza). Like Caesar's wife, one should not be seen to be privileging oneself.
What is the delicadeza and conflict of interest I am referring to here?
Here is a brief background.
I have mentioned in this column that in August 2023 the Regional Project Monitoring Committee (RPMC) of the Regional Development Council (RDC) recommended by Resolution that due to a negative slippage above 30 percent, the existing contract of MAC Builders (a contractor based in Ormoc City) covering Phase I of the multi-billion pesos project called the Tacloban Airport Development be terminated following the provisions of the Procurement Law. (soon after this meeting, the implementing agency, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines reduced the negative slippage to an eye-popping and shocking - Zero).ss
The National Economic and Development Authority deemed this matter important, and a decision had to be reached. It scheduled for discussion at the RDC Executive Committee level in September 2023. That meeting was held in Ormoc City and was presided by the Chairman of the RDC Lucy Torres-Gomez, Mayor of Ormoc City.
In that meeting, the Committee did not specifically adopt the RPMC Resolution but merely referred it to the Department of Transportation (DTr). To this day, NEDA has not informed the RPMC whether that resolution was indeed signed by the RDC Chairperson and forwarded to CAAP/DTr. But what is clear is that the DTr did not respond in writing to that resolution and NEDA did not follow up on the response as no letter to this effect was given to RPMC members. The RDC Chairperson has also not inquired in RDC meetings about the status of this project.
For added flavor, MAC Builders has these words on its website:
MAC Builders' humble beginning! From small construction work during the height of Tongonan Geothermal Power exploration and construction, MAC Builders was formed. Founded in 1983, MAC Builders is today one of the nation's most experienced and respected providers of construction and architectural landmarks throughout the Philippines.
The listed address of MAC Builders is:Purok 8, Brgy. Linao, Ormoc City, Ormoc City, Philippines
There is another aspect of this puzzle that deserves special mention here.
I have learned that the owners of MAC Builders will undertake a huge project in Ormoc City called Ormoc Mega City (launched in March 2023) to be implemented by Premium Megastructures Inc, a company owned by the owners of MAC Builders. This project will occupy 150 hectares which includes a large mangrove area.
The website of Premium Megastructure Inc. describes the project in this way:
The soon-to-be Ormoc City Megacity Township will be a city that “aspires to be richer in nature within their unique and diverse environments, and where the planning and design abundantly incorporate the natural world into the daily lives of residents.”
City Mayor Lucy Torres Gomez, Congressman Richard Gomez, and Francis Lloyd Chua, Chairman of Premium Megastructure Inc., joined the Chua patriarch, Manuel Chua, for the Groundbreaking ceremony.
The project spans around 150 hectares and includes the barangays of Naungan, Lao, and San Juan. It is measured adjacent to a 200-hectare mangrove preserve.
Ormoc Megacity, an eco-tourism township, exemplifies development without jeopardizing the ecosystem and the existing species while providing job possibilities.
The elements of this story which fall under delicadeza and conflict of interest can be gleaned from the above narration. The prudent thing to do in an important matter like this is for the RDC Chairperson to turn over to her Co-Chair the task of presiding meetings of the RDC Executive Committee if the subject matter involves critical issues hounding the implementation of a huge project by a contractor based in Ormoc City especially if that contractor is implementing a project in partnership with the City Government of Ormoc.
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