Longer wait for rice subsidy

CEBU, Philippines - Over 6,500 barangay employees need to wait longer for the rice subsidy from the Cebu City Government that was supposedly distributed last December yet.

The budget for the 6,575 sacks of rice for each barangay worker is yet to be approved by the council, which will depend on the recommendation of the committee on budget and finance where it was referred during last Wednesday’s session.

Councilor Edgardo Labella proposed a resolution charging the P8,218,750.00 for the purchase of the rice sacks against the prior year’s adjustment account since they failed to meet the cut-off last December.

The purchase of rice for the subsidy to barangay workers were appropriated a budget in the P59-million Supplemental Budget No. 3 approved December last year.

The city is supposed to purchase and distribute NFA rice sacks worth P1,250 each.

The Bids and Awards Committee issued and approved the purchase order under P.O. No. 1765 last December 28.

“Considering that the approval was made during the Christmas break, the said items were not delivered before December 31, 2012, as previously targeted,” Labella said in his proposed resolution.

Councilor Augustus Pe, Jr. suggested that it be referred to the budget and finance committee first to make sure charging against prior years adjustment is allowed.

Councilor Jose Daluz III, former chairman of the budget and finance committee, said it is allowable and needed only the approval of the council.

In the end, the council referred it to the committee on budget and finance for review. —MIT (FREEMAN)