Tom agrees to give P25 million straight to brgy coffers

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña is setting aside an initial P25 million to solve the “sore points” of the barangays.

Osmeña in yesterday’s press conference said he is heeding the suggestion of Association of Barangay Council head Eugenio Faelnar to give the funds directly to the barangays.

“Yes, why not, just identify what we call sore points, the irritants; these are small things that can be a pain in the neck. It can be a defective drainage system that needs to be altered, the lack of an electrical post, a damaged footbridge, broken basketball goal,” he said.

Osmeña said there is no given formula as to how much each barangay can get.

He said this is separate from the half million allocation to the barangays from the pork barrels of the city councilors.

“No, I just want the ABC to handle this one. You want me to have things done, so it’s up to them,” he added.

Faelnar for his part said this is a welcome development since there are many things that are supposed to be done immediately in the barangays.

The mayor recently endorsed the sixth supplemental budget amounting to P230 million to cover the urgent and necessary expenses of the barangays.

“In the nitty gritty of public service, undeniably there are small but very disturbing problems in the barangays; the little eyesores which if lumped together would be burdensome for the city officials to deal with effectively,” Osmeña said.

Osmeña also said that the barangay officials, being frontliners, should be equipped and supported to address immediate concerns of the barangays.

In reaching the said end, Osmeña said they will launch the Community Micro Assistance Program which improves the concept of self-help projects and empowers the barangay.

The said program has a budget of P15 million.

The Emergency Assistance Program, Osmeña said, is another vital move on the part of the city in promptly assisting the people through the barangays. It is under the Department of Social Welfare and Services with assistance fund reaching P13 million.

Also, there is another P4 million aid to the barangays for day care centers, garbage collectors and tanods. — Ferliza C. Contratista/MEEV   (THE FREEMAN)