The Cebu City government spent close to P1 million out of its calamity fund for food assistance to fire victims of barangay Tipolo, Mandaue City last July 25.
Councilors Gerardo Carillo and Rodrigo Abellanosa said “the spending of nearly a million pesos for the fire victims of Tipolo is legal.”
Section 5 (b.2) of Republic Act 8185 that amended section 324 (d) of the Local Government Code provides that a portion of the calamity fund may also be authorized to be used by the LGU concerned to provide financial assistance to other local government units whose area or portion thereof had been declared under the state of calamity by its city or municipal council.
But the law provides that the mayor should be authorized first, through a resolution, to assist other local government units in emergency operation.
Carillo and Abellanosa already filed a resolution, to be tackled by the City Council on Wednesday, which allows Osmeña to charge the expenses to the city’s budget for calamity fund and for him to give such assistance to the neighboring city.
There were 753 families comprising 3,180 individuals who were rendered homeless after the fire.
Investigation showed that the fire was caused by unattended cooking which reportedly started at the house of one Marta Cartaginas. — Rene U. Borromeo/MEEV