Personal funds used to pay barangay staff

CEBU, Philippines — The 131 barangay workers in Liloan, whose allowances were withheld by the Capitol because of their failure to attend during the distribution, received an equivalent amount from the personal pockets of Liloan Mayor Christina Frasco and her husband, former mayor Duke Frasco, last Saturday..

“Amo nalang gitubos ang obligasyon sa Capitol. Kay dili mi makatugot nga daug-daugon lang ni Vice Governor (Agnes) Magpale ang among mga barangay workers tungod kay mas gituman nila ang ilang trabaho sama sa measles vaccination kaysa sa mo-attend ug political rally (We just saved the Capitol from its obligation because we cannot allow our workers to be oppressed by Vice Governor Magpale for doing their jobs like measles vaccination instead of attending political rally),” said Mayor Frasco.

The mayor said the barangay tanods, health workers, lupong tagapamayapa and other workers affected have the option to pursue legal action against the vice governor for her alleged refusal to release the incentives.

Magpale earlier said that they needed to immediately liquidate the cash advances made for the honoraria of the barangay workers so they can make another cash advance for the next batch of beneficiaries.

However, Mayor Frasco said the “requirement of liquidation is not immediate” as Magpale claims it to be.

According to Frasco, the barangay workers, having failed to receive their pay on March 8 (Friday), could very well claim it on March 11 (Monday) and can still claim it until March 20 under the rules of the Commission on Audit.

But the workers were refused to claim their honoraria when they came to Capitol last Monday.

Magpale accused the officials of Liloan of “politicking” by prohibiting the workers to come during the scheduled distribution.

According to Magpale, the local officials were notified of the distribution through a letter.

The letter dated February 27, 2019 was signed by Provincial Administrator Atty. Mark Tolentino.

“The distribution of cash incentives for Barangay Health Workers (BHW), Barangay Tanods, Barangay Lupons, Day Care Workers (DCW) and Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) of the Municipality of Liloan will be on March 8, 2019, Friday, 8:00 am at the Barangay Catarman Gym,” the letter read.

“The distribution will be led by Governor Hilario P. Davide III, Vice-Governor Agnes A. Magpale and the Board Members of the 5th District. In this regard, we will humbly ask your help in informing the beneficiaries,” it added.

A handwritten note indicated that the letter was received by the office of Frasco on March 5, 2019 at 11 a.m.

But Frasco said her office never officially received the letter. She pointed out the irregularity that the letter does not even bear the official receiving stamp of her office.

“Assuming for the sake of argument that I received the letter, this still does not erase the fact that we have an ongoing measles vaccination for kids in all barangays, not to mention all our other ongoing health and peace and order programs which our barangay workers are duty bound to carry out,” she said.

The mayor added that the measles epidemic poses a clean and present danger to the public, especially to the children, which should be a priority over political rally. (FREEMAN)