Village chiefs asked: Return P8 million aid

CEBU, Philippines — Association of Barangay Council-Cebu City President Franklyn Ong has encouraged the barangay captains to return the financial assistance amounting to P8 million given to the respective barangays to avoid irregularities.

During their third general assembly yesterday, Ong brought up the matter since  most of the barangay captains were newly-elected officials.

Of the 80 barangays, around 50 barangay captains were present during the general assembly.

“So we are encouraging all the punong barangays nga katong mga barangay nga nakadawat og financial assistance not during their time nga gi-disallow man gud to siya, we have to return that,” Ong said.

In 2015, during the term of former Mayor Michael Rama, the Commission on Audit (COA) has disallowed the “City Barangays-Financial Assistance for Various Projects” due to the lack of authorization from the City Council.

That is why the COA has directed the barangays to return the money and to submit detailed documents on how they would spend the amount so that the city council will be notified about it.

Earlier, Councilor Margarita “Margot” Osmeña, chairwoman of the committee on budget and finance, has made it clear that before the city government can disburse the financial assistance back to the barangays, each barangay need to submit their project proposals to avoid questionable disbursement of funds.

In fact, record shows that there were at least eight barangays who have returned their financial assistance that include Buhisan, Capitol Site, Cogon Ramos, Kinasang-an, Pahina Central, Talamban, Tejero and Banilad.

After returning the money, the executive department has included it in the supplemental budget for this year.

For complying with the necessary procedure, the city council has allowed the City Treasurer’s Office to disburse the financial assistance to the seven barangays.

Aside from avoiding any irregularities, the barangays has to give back the funds so that they can use it with proper documentation.

“Once it’s being returned, then it will be included again in SB (supplemental budget) para mabalik sa ilaha on the right process na ba,” Ong said.

He added there are other barangays that gave back the money but failed to submit project proposals.

These barangays are Busay, Kalubihan, Kasambagan, Luz, Mabini, Mabolo, among others.

When asked what will happen to the barangays that had spent a portion of P8 million and it was not liquidated, Ong said the current barangay officials have to file a case, as advised by COA.

Other than this, topics discussed during the assembly were their respective duties as an elective officials as provided under the law, government procurement process, health services of the city government, among others. — GAN (FREEMAN)