CEBU, Philippines - Members of the Barangay Intelligence Network (BIN) once again asked the Cebu City Government to release their honorarium covering the period April to August.
Nolasco Endrina and more than 20 other members wrote to Councilor Margarita “Margot” Osmeña asking for help in collecting their pay.
Each of these civilian peacekeeping volunteers are entitled to an honorarium of P3,000 every month.
They are assigned to secure the Fuente Osmeña, Plaza Independencia, City Hall premises and other offices of the city government.
“Lugaw-lugaw lang tawon usa mi kay wala pa man g’yud mi hatagi sa ginagmay namo nga honorarium,” said a peacekeeping volunteer assigned at the parking area of City Hall.
Endrina said they are hoping that Osmeña could help them being the chairman of the Committee on Budget and Finance of the Cebu City Council.
Mayor Michael Rama explained that the problem started after the City Council slashed his proposed budget for security services that includes the honorarium of the peacekeeping volunteers.
According to Endrina, they were also told that they could not expect to get their pay soon because the council is yet to act on Rama’s P200 million Supplemental Budget No. 2.
The City Council returned the proposed budget to the executive department as it lacks supporting documents.
The council also wanted newly-designated acting City Treasurer Emma Villarete to be the one to sign the documents that states funds are available for the supplemental budget.
“Ato g’yud ni nga siguroon kon asa ta magkuha og budget nga ikasuporta sa Supplemental Budget kay ako ra ba maoy ilang sukit-sukiton,” Villarete told The FREEMAN. (FREEMAN)