Livelihood training yarn to be probed

CEBU, Philippines - The Office of Cebu Sixth District Rep. Benhur Salimbangon will conduct its own investigation into the implementation of the livelihood training project in Bogo City and other areas in the district.

Lawyer Joje Decal, chief of staff of Salimbangon, said in a press statement that they will coordinate with the Technology and Resource Center and verify the implementation of the livelihood training in Bogo City and other areas in 2008.

“Congressman Salimbangon did not participate in the implementation of the livelihood training in Bogo City, Tabogon and other areas. Congressman Salimbangon considered Bogo as hostile area,” the statement read.

The Commission on Audit is verifying the claim of Bogo City Mayor Celestino “Junie” Martinez Jr. that they have not received any livelihood training from Salimbangon’s office despite being included as one of the beneficiaries.

The Salimbangons and Martinezes are political rivals.

According to the COA report TRC records revealed that part of Salimbangon’s Priority Development Assistance Fund or pork barrel, a total of P7.8 million, was released to Aaron Foundation Philippines Inc. as payment for livelihood trainings, training kits and materials from March to May 2008.

Bogo City was included in the list of 576 beneficiaries trained from March to May 2008. Aside from Bogo City, other towns in the district such as Tabogon, Tabuelan, Bantayan, Daanbantayan, Medellin, San Remigio, Sta. Fe and Madridejos were also included.

Martinez, in his reply to COA, said none of his 29 barangays benefited from the said livelihood program.

Decal added that in 2007, Salimbangon allocated from his PDAF the amount of P7.8 million to TRC for livelihood training. The livelihood training was designed to equip his constituents and to give them a sustainable income.

In early in 2008, Decal added that Salimbangon was even able to attend one of the trainings conducted and supervised by TRC in Barangay Curva, Medellin.The training consisted of actual demonstration on how to make sardines, tocino and chorizo among others. After which the participants were given an instructional CD each.

Training and distribution of instructional CDs were likewise done in other areas of the district and more than a thousand participants received the instructional CD.

Decal further said that TRC has no office in Cebu.

“TRC issued a statement that Aaron Foundation is a duly registered SEC corporation, contrary to what Mayor Martinez said and had been issued yearly a Certificate of Good Standing by SEC,” Decal added. — (FREEMAN)