CH donates vehicles to city’s 80 barangays

CEBU, Philippines — Before the last adjournment of the 14th Sangguniang Panlungsod of Cebu City, the council approved the donation of city-owned vehicles to another 26 barangays in the city.

During the regular session last Tuesday, Councilor Sisinio Andales said all 80 barangays will receive their own share of the vehicles as he and Councilor Eugenio Gabuya, Jr. have been pushing for the approval of these donations to them.

“These vehicles are already in the possession of the barangays. We are just donating it to them,” he said.

Andales said some of the barangays already signed the Deed of Donation and Acceptance with outgoing Mayor Tomas Osmeña.

Barangay Tisa will receive four units of vehicles while Barangays Mabolo, Suba, and Sudlon I will receive three units each from the city.

The barangays that will receive two units of vehicles each are Malubog, Sudlon II, Tejero, Toong, Tagbao, Lahug, Lorega San Miguel, Luz, and Pamutan while Barangays Taptap, Talamban, Tinago, Zapatera, Tabunan, Sto Niño, Pahina Central, Pahina San Nicolas, Pari-an, Pit-os, and Bonbon received one vehicle each.

Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera earlier asked for the basis of the identification of the vehicles that will be given to the barangays.

Andales said these vehicles have long been used by the barangays, adding that the outgoing administration just want to donate these vehicles so it won’t be affected by any change of administration.

It has been discussed in the City Council that the outgoing administration reportedly copied the idea of incoming Mayor Edgardo Labella who has been vocal during the campaign period of his plans to donate the vehicles to the barangays once he will be elected.

But, the allies of Osmeña defended him in the council and said that it is also the plan of the outgoing mayor.

Andales said the donation of these vehicles would mean that the barangays will shoulder the maintenance, repairs, and fuel allocation since they own these units already.

But Association of Barangay Councils Cebu City Chapter President and Kasambagan Chairman Franklyn Ong said he is hoping that Labella will continue to help and assist the barangays in maintaining the vehicles, stressing that the officials have not anticipated the donations and they have not allocated funds for it this year.

Ong said he will discuss these things with Labella who plans to gather all 80 barangay captains in the city once he assumes office.

During the previous weeks in the City Council, it approved the donation of over 130 vehicles to the different barangays in the city. —/GAN (FREEMAN)