Memo against use of dev funds for brgy admin expenses halted

CEBU, Philippines - The implementation of the joint circular issued by the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department of Budget and Management which prohibits the utilization of the development funds of the local government units for the administrative expenses of the barangay has been deferred.

The joint circular recently alarmed the barangay workers, especially the garbage collectors and the Gender and Development personnel, because their salaries were taken from the 20-percent development fund.

DILG Cebu City director Patricio Gabuya said the barangay workers have nothing to worry about because the joint memorandum circular has already been recalled.

“That circular dated April 13 was suspended,” Gabuya said.

Gabuya said a new guideline for its implementation is expected to be released next month. Local officials in Cebu City earlier complained against the said joint memorandum circular because it will affect several barangay employees.

Gabuya admitted that aside from Cebu City, other local government units in the country are also complaining about it.

 Gabuya said the officials have valid reasons to complain because their annual budget had already allocated a portion of their 20-percent development fund to some of the items declared prohibited under the circular such as salaries of midwives, tanod and electric bills.

The barangay captains in Cebu City said several barangay employees would lose their jobs if the joint DILG and DBM circular will be implemented right away. They asked that the implementation will be deferred until 2012.

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

Under the joint memorandum circular, the use of the 20 percent Annual Investment Plan for barangay administrative expenses such as cash gifts, bonuses, food allowance, medical assistance, uniforms, supplies, meetings, communication, utility bills and petroleum products are prohibited.

Even traveling expenses, registration fees for trainings, seminars, conferences and conventions are likewise prohibited. This is to enhance transparency and accountability of local government units in undertaking development projects. — (FREEMAN)