Rama yet to concur budget for brgy empowerment

CEBU, Philippines - The P3.5-million budget allocated for the cost of expenses for the Barangay Empowerment Program is yet to be concurred by the Office of the Mayor.

Cebu City Councilors David Tumulak and Philip Zafra have proposed a resolution charging the budget against Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation funds.

The committee on budget and finance, upon perusal, interposed no objection on the proposed resolution.

The Barangay Empowerment Program is seen to assist barangay officials, staff and community leaders to be equipped with adequate knowledge in administering, managing and improving their affairs for a better delivery of services to the constituents.

The program would reportedly benefit an estimated 4, 000 team players in the 80 barangays in the city.

“It is the thrust of the current administration to strengthen or empower the barangay, enabling them to maintain and sustain eventually their own development in accordance to its plan and pace,” the resolution reads.

The implementation of the programs includes disaster preparedness and management; barangay justice system; budgeting processes; taxation; government processes and service delivery mechanism; seminar-workshop for tanods, lupons, treasurers and secretaries; executive, legislative and judicial functions of barangay; project development; parliamentary procedures, the resolution further reads.

Tumulak and Zafra said one of the guidelines for the use of PAGCOR funds includes “projects that have to do with the improvement of peace and order in the city, those that involve the extension of emergency assistance to victims of natural disasters and calamities and terrorism, and other projects that will help alleviate poverty among the poor sector.”

 The Office of the Mayor, through the Barangay Affairs and Cebu City Resource Management and Development Center, are tasked to implement the Barangay Empowerment Program.  (FREEMAN)