Rama wants barangays to share gov’t vehicles

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama expects barangays that are recipients of government vehicles from the city to share  these to their neighbors.

Rama said this amid questions why vehicles are concentrated in some barangays.

“These vehicles, even handed to a specific barangay, can still be utilized by others. It’s a matter of coordination,” Rama told reporters.

Emergency situations call for barangays to extend help and ferry patients beyond their constituents.

Barangay Malubog, for example, can utilize vehicles from its neighbor barangays of Busay, Babag, Bonbon, and Sirao.

The city council did not allow an ambulance to be purchased for Barangay Malubog noting that the barangay already received many vehicles.

Similarly, garbage trucks assigned to a specific barangay can also be used to collect solid wastes from other barangays.

“There are barangays that are actually doing that. All it takes is for barangays to cooperate and coordinate. Barangay leaders can actually do that and decide what’s better for the entire city,” he added.

Rama said that just because it was given to them, it also means that others can use it for important reasons. — (FREEMAN)