Manifesto signed versus DILG, DBM fund policy

CEBU, Philippines - Barangay captains of the 80 barangays in Cebu City signed a manifesto asking the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and Commission on Audit (COA) to reconsider the implementation of a new policy regarding the usage of the 20 percent development fund.

In an emergency meeting yesterday afternoon at the Cebu City Hall, the barangay captains expressed that several barangay employees would lose their jobs if the joint circular of DILG and DBM will be implemented right away. They asked that the implementation be deferred to 2012.

“We sincerely and prayerfully ask the DILG and DBM and the city accounting office to give us ample time to re-adjust and re-structure our respective barangays on this matter,” the manifesto reads.

The development fund, which is at least 20 percent of the overall budget of a local government, is where Cebu City gets its budget for the salary of garbage collectors and personnel of the Gender and Development (GAD).

The new joint memorandum circular of DILG and DBM dated April 13, prohibits the use of the 20 percent Annual Investment Plan for the barangay’s administrative expenses such as cash gifts, bonuses, food allowance, medical assistance, uniforms, supplies, meetings, communication, water and light, and petroleum products. Salaries and wages, travelling expenses, registration fees in training, seminar, conferences and conventions are also prohibited.

Likewise, the new circular prohibits the construction, repainting or finishing of administrative offices; the purchase of office furniture, fixtures, equipment and appliance, as well as maintenance of motor vehicles and motorcycles.

The said circular stressed that the purposes of the guidelines is to enhance transparency and accountability of local government units in undertaking development projects. This would also help address the problem natural and man-made disaster and calamities.

Yesterday, DBM representative Jose Salvador assured the barangay captains that the circular will be not implemented this year.

Capitol Barangay Captain Manuel Guanzon, for his part, said it would even be better if barangays will be exempted from the policy. 

DBM 7 Director Carmela Fernan already informed Mayor Michael Rama about the new policy. (FREEMAN)