P100M Batac cultural center to push through amidst pork scam scandal

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff Reporter

Batac City—Local residents here are confident the proposed 100-million peso worth Batac Cultural Center would push through amidst the controversial pork barrel scam where most of the funding are sourced.

Even if the Supreme Court has declared unconstitutional—both past and present congressional pork barrel laws, and ordering the criminal prosecution of individuals who benefited from it.

Batac City Mayor Jeffrey Jubal Nalupta said the 1,000-seater cultural center with an initial P35 million funding and an additional P40 million—all from the priority development allotment fund (PDAF) of Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda R. Marcos (2^nd district, Ilocos Norte) is up for bidding.

After engaging the services of an architectural firm with expertise on designing cultural centers, Nalupta said the final design has already been approved by Mrs. Marcos who is personally overseeing the implementation of the said project through the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Initiated by the Batac City mayor, he said “there is nothing impossible” for the congresswoman who is known for building the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Aside from the Imelda Cultural Center named after the former first lady located next to Batac City Hall, the proposed bigger Batac Cultural center will be erected on a 7,000 sq. m. lot at the government center here.

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