Baragays get P5 million each

CEBU, Philippines — Mayor Edgardo Labella announced yesterday that all 80 barangays in the city, allied or not allied with his administration, will receive P5 million each as financial assistance for garbage collection and other programs.

In a meeting with barangay captains yesterday, Labella said the city has allocated at least P400 million in the Annual Budget for 2019 for the financial assistance to the barangays.

“Naay ubos sa annual budget nga tag P5 million, ato nang ihatag ninyo. Walay pili-pili. Walay politika. Kinahanglan atong ihatag sa tanang barangays ang tag P5 million for as long as you comply with the requirements of liquidation (There is a P5 million allocation in the budget. We will give that to you. No politics. It’s important that we give the P5 million to each barangay for as long as you comply with requirements of liquidation),” Labella said.

Labella said the barangays should liquidate the assistance from the city in previous years.

He said he will consider giving another P5 million aid to barangays next year for as long as the barangays will assist the city in rehabilitating the waterways and in collecting garbage, among others.

“Sa sunod budget, kon maayo inyong panglimpyo, maayo inyong performance, that would be assessed by a committee nila ni Atty (Jerone) Castillo, (Joey) Daluz ug (Jeffry) Ibores, atong pun-an og P5 million sa sunod budget (If you clean your areas well – and this will be assessed by the committee of Atty Castillo, Daluz, and Ibores – we can add P5 million  more in the next budget),” he said.

He said the barangays can initiate any project as long as the project cleans the barangay, its waterways and public places, and helps in garbage collection.

The Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) welcomed Labella’s announcement.

ABC President Franklyn Ong, the barangay captain of Kasambagan, said the P5 million financial aid is being processed under his office.

As of yesterday, the city has released the financial aid to Barangays Malubog and Sawang Calero. At least 17 others are awaiting release at the Office of the City Accountant.

Labella also has to approve the proposals of 28 barangays.

Ong said majority of the proposals from the barangays include the purchase of garbage trucks that can assist in collecting garbage.

“Imagine all 80 barangays will buy garbage trucks… we will be talking about 80 garbage trucks running in the city. Makatabang gyud na sa atong basura (This can really help in our garbage collection),” Ong said.

Banilad Barangay Captain Dennes Tabar said the executive department should also consider deploying barangay environment officers.

Meanwhile, Labella reminded barangay captains of their functions in rehabilitating waterways and sustaining its cleanliness.

The mayor said barangay officials should set aside political posturing especially in performing their duties and responsibilities.

He said his administration will take necessary steps against barangay officials if they will not assist the city in monitoring the state of the waterways and maintaining their cleanliness.

Last Saturday, at least 3,304 volunteers from different stakeholders helped in cleaning the Guadalupe River.

Atty. John Jigo Dacua, head of the Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office, said the city government needs the cooperation of barangays to make the city a livable one. 

Dacua said his office will not hesitate n issuing citation tickets to violators.  JMO (FREEMAN)