8 mountain barangays get buses

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City government yesterday distributed eight buses worth P12.7 million to eight mountain barangays in the city’s south district where Mayor Tomas Osmeña is running for congressman. Osmeña also promised to give more buses to the remaining six hinterland barangays to be used for various purposes.

City Councilor Augustus Pe Jr. who facilitated for the realization of the project said each of the five-speed power-steering buses is worth P1.590 million. These were purchased from the Pasahero Motors Corp. which offered a one-year warranty for the vehicles.

The first eight mountain barangays that received the buses are Bonbon, Sudlon 1, Sudlon II, Pamutan, Toong, Tagbao, Tabunan and Sinsin. Aside from the six other mountain barangays of the south district, the 51st Marines Reserve Battalion headed by Osmeña will also receive one bus each next month.

While Osmeña also approved that barangay Buot-Taop will also receive a bus next month, the mayor explained that it will not be turned over to barangay captain Archie Sibla because the latter is an ally of the opposition.

“It will be turned over to barangay councilor Rosalita “Daya” Calino, not to the barangay captain,” Osmeña said in a press conference. The councilwoman used to be the barangay captain of Buot-Taop and is a supporter of Osmeña.

The mayor explained that he has decided to give buses to the south district because each of the barangays in the north district already received buses from Cebu City north district Rep. Raul del Mar.

Vice Mayor Michael Rama asked the smiling barangay officials who accepted the buses to take care of it so it will last longer.

“Kon dili ninyo kini atimanon, ako ni nga bawion liwas sa eleksyon,” the mayor jokingly told the barangay officials. — Rene U. Borromeo/BRP (THE FREEMAN)