Rama won’t allow ABC to give out sacks of rice

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama will not allow the Association of Barangay Councils to distribute the sacks of rice intended for the over 6,000 officials and employees of the 80 barangays in the city.

Rama said his office will facilitate the distribution of the 6,575 sacks of rice despite a City Council resolution reminding him to comply with the provision of the appropriation ordinance.

According to Rama, the distribution of the assistance to the barangay officials and employees could not be delegated to the ABC since the organization is not a government office.

He explained that ABC is merely a non-government organization.

The council approved last Wednesday the resolution of ABC president Michael Ralota reminding the mayor to course through the ABC all assistance for the barangay.

The resolution was opposed by Rama’s allies in the City Council. They are Councilors Jose Daluz III, Edgardo Labella, and Edu Rama. Councilor Ronald Cuenco was absent during the voting wherein 14 councilors allied with the Bando Osmeña Pundok-Kauswagan (BOPK) voted for the approval of the resolution.

Ralota said it is clearly provided for in the appropriation ordinance that the distribution of any kind of assistance to the barangays shall be done by the ABC.

It was Ralota who prepared the documents for the granting of sacks of rice to all officials and employees of the 80 barangays in the city.

Ralota claimed that the personnel of the Office of the Mayor altered the documents and changed the signatories of the purchase orders.

Daluz explained that the Office of the Mayor just added the name of Henry Tomalabcad as one of the signatories to make the document legal.

“Wala namo na gi-alter ang dukomento, amo lang gi-correct ang sayop (We did not alter the document we only corrected it),” Rama said.

The city will be spending P8.2 million for the purchase of the 6,575 sacks of rice at P1,250 each. —(FREEMAN)