Relief of Agno flood control chief sought

Dagupan City (15 December) — The sangguniang panlalawigan yesterday asked the Department of Public Works and Highways to relieve Philip Meñez, project director of the Agno River Flood Control System.

The move stemmed from Meñez’s consistent failure to attend SP hearings on the cause of the massive flooding at the height of Typhoon Pepeng.

Board Member Alfonso Bince, who authored the resolution for the purpose, said that the SP action was a “milder rebuke” since initially, he bared, the provincial board was contemplating on declaring him a persona non grata.

Meñez failed to attend the October 26 meeting presided by Governor Amado T. Espino. Jr. which was attended by all mayors. He also snubbed the subsequent invitations of the provincial board on November 9 and 16 and on December 7 and failed to even send a representative.

The board said that Meñez’ persistent disregard of the legal invitations by the legislative body was “an act of disrespect and discourtesy, if not indifference, to the welfare of Pangasinan and its inhabitants.”

The provincial board asked that a permanent and regular project director be appointed immediately to replace Meñez, who was just detailed from the central office. (PIO/PIA Pangasinan)