Ex-brgy chair seeks BuB’s project probe

SAGBAYAN, BOHOL, Philippines — The Bottom-up Budgeting program (BuB) of "Daang Matuwid" of former president Benigno Aquino III appeared to incur a black-eye when recently it was found out to be improperly carried out as intended.

Former chairman Margarito Lanoy of Barangay Kabasakan of this town urged the Department of Interior and Local Government, through Municipal Local Government Operations Officer Suzette Guadalquiver, to investigate into the BuB for reforestation project, under the National Greening Program (NGP), from 2014 to 2015.

Lanoy in his letter to Guadalquiver said, in the interest of good governance and accountability, "I humbly ask and request your good office to conduct a thorough investigation on this matter."

The DILG responded by telling Lanoy his complaint was referred to the Municipal Council in Sagbayan, following the process as mandated by the Local Government Code of 1991, which states: "A complaint against any elective barangay official shall be filed before the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Board) or Sangguniang Bayan (Municipal Council) concerned whose decision shall be final and exe-cutory."

Appearing dissatisfied with the DILG's response, Lanoy urged Vice Governor Dionisio Balite for a separate investigation on the BuB program in the barangay, including unimplemented seedling production, establishment of barangay tree plantation, roadside fruit trees and bamboo plantations.

He said the matter has been referred to the local council "but there was no action" and this prompted him to elevate the matter to the vice governor's office.

Contrary to Lanoy's claim, however, Councilor Ambrosio Soquillo Jr, chairman of the Council's environment committee, said a committee hearing was already held to address the complaint, and that the matter was already presented to the Council, confronted Barangay Chairman Allan Corbita and consulted DENR's PENRO Nestor Canda about it.

Soquillo said that, after a thorough deliberation on Lanoy's complaint, the Council came up with Resolution No. 2016-95, referring the case to the Office of the Ombudsman.

A cursory scrutiny of the general ledger, the balances of the BuB fund, for instance "labor cacao plantation"  balance of P233,410.73 and P33,560.75 were still intact.

Lanoy's complaint is now referred to the PB's environment protection committee chaired by PB Member Aga Avenido, who vowed to conduct an investigation.