Provincial government to shoulder Tudela's electricity expenses

CEBU, Philippines - After days of having no electricity in the town’s municipal hall, Tudela municipal officials and employees can now heave a sigh of relief after the Cebu provincial government promised to shoulder the town’s unpaid electricity bill.

Vice Mayor Clint Maratas, along with some councilors, department heads and employees, had a meeting with Governor Gwendolyn Garcia yesterday to seek help on the recent issues and concerns that beset the municipal government, particularly their unpaid electric bills and salaries of the town employees.

The Camotes Electric Cooperative cut off the electricity connection of the municipal hall building last March 23 due to unpaid bills amounting to P102,485.46, which covers the period from December 25, 2008 to February 26, 2009.

In a meeting with Garcia at the Capitol session hall, the governor asked provincial treasurer Roy Salubre if the province can shoulder the unpaid electric bills of the town.

“Ang province of  Cebu mao lang una ang mo-cover sa electricity bills sa Tudela,” Garcia said, to which Salubre replied that the town must first pass a resolution that will authorize the provincial government through the governor to settle their unpaid electric bills.

Capitol and Tudela officials blamed municipal treasurer Angelita Roble for her failure to speed up the release of the payment of the town’s utility bills and the delay in the salaries of the municipal workers.

The municipal hall operations were reportedly affected as a result of Roble’s refusal to cooperate and non-appearance.

Garcia and Roble are the signatories of the town’s Land Bank of the Philippines check while a certification for availability of funds was issued by the provincial accountant.

The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas has already recommended earlier that Garcia sign the checks for the disbursement of municipal funds until such time that the mayoralty dispute in the town is resolved.

Rogelio Baquerfo Sr. and Demetrio Granada are now both claiming to be the legitimate mayor of the town.

After the meeting with the governor that lasted almost one-hour, Maratas immediately convened the council, through special session, to pass a resolution that will authorized the provincial government to shoulder the unpaid electricity bills.

Another resolution was also passed authorizing the governor to release the funds from the provincial government for the workers’ salaries.

The town has at least 95 workers who include the job orders, regular employees and officials that have been waiting for their salaries for two months and half.

Garcia also promised the officials that the province will continue to deliver the basic services in the town particularly medicines and supplies.

“Wala’y lugar karon ang kaikog. Ang ako lang hangyo mao nga wala’y color coding ang pagtabang bisan kinsa tawong moduol,” Garcia said. — Garry B. Lao/WAB   (THE FREEMAN)