Rama: Barangays to get 4x4 vehicles

CEBU, Philippines - The conflict between two political leaders in Cebu City can also bring some good.

This as Mayor Michael Rama announced yesterday that all barangays will get brand new vehicles by next year.

The announcement was made during a meeting between Rama and all barangay captains at the Cebu Grand Convention Center.

This also came shortly after Rep. Tomas Osmeña of the South District announced that he was giving tablet personal computers to all captains, including those from the North District.

Osmeña, Rama’s predecessor at City Hall and political patron, has been criticizing the mayor on several grounds.

In yesterday’s meeting, Rama brought with him the various department heads to answer the questions of the captains.

Rama said that he has received numerous requests from barangay officials for vehicles that they can use for emergencies as many of their vehicles are now beyond repair.

Rama said that he is giving brand new vehicles to the barangays as the ones that were distributed in the past were only refurbished vehicles, which is the reason why they easily break down.

He said that he wants each barangay to get a 4x4 multi-purpose vehicle worth about P1 million and will include the funding for such in the 2012 annual budget that would be submitted to the council next month.

Rama said that there is nothing political about this move as he only wants to the constituents to get what is best for them.

Philip Zafra, Chief of Staff Rama, said that some of the vehicles might be distributed this year if they can still charge such to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) Funds.

The rest that could not be charged against Pagcor Funds will be included in the annual budget.

The city gets P4 million monthly as share in the revenues of Pagcor for operating in the city.

The Pagcor funds can be used for sports and cultural activities, poverty alleviation programs, peace and order programs, and purchase of vehicles, among others.

Zafra said that the mayor planned it months ago. The vehicles shall primarily be used for peace and order and for emergency purposes.

Monthly assistance

Rama also announced that the monthly assistance of P5,000 to all barangay captains and P3,000 to all barangay councilmen will be available by December.

An additional piece of good news is that it will be retroactive to January instead of July which was the original plan.

All captains then will receive P60,000 each by December while all councilmen will receive P36,000 each.

There was also a suggestion from Basak San Nicolas Captain George Rama to increase the assistance to P10,000 because he said the officials deserve more since they work sometimes 24/7 as being the captain, they are on call anytime.

Barangay captains threw questions to the mayor mostly about when their requested projects will be funded or when their pending projects, that are already budgeted, will be implemented.

Rama ordered the Department of Engineering and Public Works to dig the files and make a status report of all requests from the barangays and all the projects in the barangays that have been funded.

Rama said the barangays must be made aware about the status of their projects so they do not have to go almost every day to city hall to follow up.

Collateral   damage

Some barangay captains fear that the projects in their barangays will be affected by the conflict between the mayor, who bolted the Bando Osmeña Pundok-Kauswagan, and the council who all remained members of the BOPK.

Basak-Pardo Captain David Tumulak said that the council tries to convince them, they know that the slashing of the budget of the mayor, where most of the items affected are barangay projects, would appear as tainted with politics.

Tumulak said that captains want the delivery of service from their leaders and not to be part of their political bickering.

“Kaming mga barangay captains, dili mi gusto og samok. Apektado naman gyud mi sa ilang away-away,” Tumulak said.

He said the city council should try to find a way to fund their projects.

“Nganung di sila kapangita og paagi. Sila man atong gipili,” Tumulak said.

“Mag-uban lang sa unta sila karon, unya na sila magbuwag kung panahon na sa eleksyon kay luoy gyud kaayo ming mga kapitan. Di mi kahibawo asa mi mulugar,” said Busay Captain Eliodoro Sanchez.

Capitol Site Captain Manuel Guanzon, however, said his barangay is not at all affected by the conflict between the council and the mayor.  

He said his problem is with the DEPW which for him is slow in implementing projects. –/NLQ (FREEMAN)