No more fuel budget for Barili trash trucks

CEBU, Philippines - The conflict between Barili Mayor Teresito Mariñas and Vice Mayor Marlon Garcia may be affecting the delivery of basic services to the people, this after townsfolk yesterday complained about the foul smell of five days’ worth of uncollected garbage in the public market.

Mariñas explained that there is no more allocation for fuel left in the budget due to the slash made by the municipal council led by Garcia.

“Isip mayor, ako sila giingnan nga dili ni ato binuhatan. Kini tungod kay wala gi-grant sa Sangguniang Bayan ang budget,” Mariñas said.

Mariñas proposed P2.6 million in the 2012 annual budget for fuel allocation based on the actual expenses in the past years but only P600,000 was approved by council.

Garcia, however, said Mariñas was playing up an “old drama” and that garbage was intentionally scattered in the public market just to malign his name.

“I challenged him to a debate before the media, ayaw anang drama kay mohilak siya, ako mokatawa,” Garcia said.

Garcia said since the start, he was already wondering about the huge expenses for fuel averaging P2.5 million every year.

Garcia requested Mariñas to submit an accounting of fuel consumption and the logbook with the whereabouts of the government vehicles.

“Nagbantay mi sa kwarta sa lungsod, sala diay na namo? Malipay unta siya nga gitabangan namo siya pagbantay sa iya mga tawo. Amo gusto nga limpyo,” Garcia said.

Pending submission of the said documents, Garcia said the council approved only P650,000 good for the first quarter of this year which is from January to March.

Mariñas submitted a supplemental budget to have allocation for fuel for the rest of the year but the council reportedly approved only P650,000.

He said for April and May, they already incurred P259,000 in payables to a private gasoline station who refused to fuel their government vehicles particularly garbage trucks starting June 1.

Mariñas said that their government vehicles include his Bighorn service vehicle, a bus, an ambulance, a fire truck, two tankers, heavy equipment, three dump trucks, six multicabs and more than 10 motorcycles.

Garcia said that only one dump truck, a garbage compactor and four motorcycles are serviceable including the mayor’s service vehicle which allegedly consumes P1,000 a day in fuel.

Mariñas and Garcia were allies during the last election but are reportedly running against each other for mayor next year.

Mayor Garcia is the brother of Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia who just transferred her voter’s registration to Barili in the third district from Dumanjug in the second district. 

—(FREEMAN)