After Daanbantayan incident: Capitol says all activities must get nod of LGU

CEBU, Philippines – All departments of the provincial government must first notify the local government unit where they intend to hold activities so as not to repeat the incident last Tuesday when Daanbantayan Mayor Maria Luisa Loot stopped orientation programs of Capitol for absence of prior permission.

"We assure everybody that if they request for existing program of the Capitol, proper protocol must be followed," said Capitol spokesperson Rory Jon Sepulveda.

Loot stopped the welfare orientation program conducted by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development (PSWD) Office in two barangays in Daanbantayan because the activities did not have permit from the municipal government.

PSWDO chief Marivic Garces said Loot berated not her staff, but the barangay captains as it was the latter who invited the PSWD staff. She said her staff also thought the activities were properly coordinated with the town's officials. 

Despite the incident, Garces said barangay captains may still approach the local municipal social welfare office if they want PSWD to conduct the orientation in their barangays.

The orientation seminars prepare participants to create sectoral groups and cooperatives so they can benefit from provincial government programs such as the "Bigasan para sa Kababayenan (rice stocks for women)."

In the meantime, orientations of the said program are temporarily suspended, as the campaign period for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections begins so they will not be viewed as political. 

A rift erupted between Loot and Governor Gwendolyn Garcia after the governor got angry when Loot asked for financial assistance for the town's festival last August 30, 2010 despite not participating in this year's "Pasigarbo Sa Sugbu."   Loot was a supporter of Garcia's One Cebu party in the May national and local elections. (FREEMAN)