A city secretary’s dirty little secrets?

Over a hundred businessmen occupying a parcel of government land in Quezon City are now up in arms against a plan by secretary to the mayor Taddy Palma to demolish existing business structures there to give way to a supposed plan to improve the road and drainage systems.



But here’s the catch: Members of the National Government Center Small and Medium Entrepreneurs Association Inc. claim that the area where they operate was never flood-prone. In several letters sent to QC Mayor Herbert “Bistek” Bautista, the officers of the group had repeatedly protested the plan, explaining that they were already in the thick of discussions with the National Housing Authority when Palma butted in.



The group, whose members occupy a piece of land along IBP Road, contended that Palma’s real intention was not to improve the road and drainage systems but to occupy the same land allegedly for his personal gain.



During a recent meeting held at Palma’s own office, the group claimed the official uttered the words alangan namang kayo lang ang kikita. Dapat ako din kumita. The meeting that transpired on Oct. 8 yielded unfavorable results. According to the businessmen, Palma told them that what he wanted was to raise funds to maintain Task Force Commo (Commonwealth Avenue) amounting to P600,000. It was not clear if the amount would be on a monthly basis or not. So why don’t we ask Mr. Palma himself? We are ready to accommodate his side of the story.



Chit Umali, leader of the group, claimed former Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. had allowed their stay in the compound in question which was being eyed for auction. Umali said Belmote took the cudgels for them and simply advised to group to coordinate with the national government and the NHA for them to “obtain the lands they are occupying.”



The businessmen followed the mayor’s directive and were actually “in the process of getting things done” when Palma suddenly entered the picture and told them to vacate the land today.



Business owners were given a warning that they should “voluntarily demolish” their structures by Nov. 2 through a notice dated Nov. 13, 2010. That’s funny.



Last August, the group claimed Palma himself wrote them a letter that said the questioned lot is a property of the national government and not of the city government. The issuance of the notices to vacate the property was a complete turnaround from Palma’s own claims, according to Umali’s group.



QC has been touted as a business-friendly city and preparations are on the way for the establishment of the biggest business center- the QC central Business District. I wonder why businessmen are unhappy, for cryin’ out loud.



Mayor Bistek should look deeper into this matter and find out if there are officials around him who stand to profit from the “informal income” or butaw that would be derived from this venture. Rumors in the grapevine indicated that the same had occurred at Litex and IBP Road before where vendors had to shell out P45,000 for the rights to occupy a stall inside a flea market and pay a daily butaw of P180-P200.



I see. These small businessmen are being exterminated because there’s a new flea market rising on IBP Road. New flea market, new butaw.