Lawyer: No certification on availability of funds

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City legal office has clarified that no certificate of availability of funds was issued by the city treasurer for the cash assistance of senior citizens when the 2014 annual budget ordinance was passed last year.

Lawyer Jerone Castillo issued the clarification in answer to the letter of lawyer Reymelio Delute demanding the full amount of the intended cash assistance this year.

Delute, in his demand letter, claimed that the entire amount of P12,000 should be released within the year because it has already become a legal duty or obligation of the city government considering that city treasurer Diwa Cuevas allegedly certified on the availability of funds for the program.

 Castillo said that what was certified to by Cuevas was the source of funds or resources.

"What the city treasurer issued was a certification as to sources of funds or resources which are to be used for appropriation in an annual budget," Castillo said.

 "In accordance with laws and existing guidelines, such certification of the city treasurer is based on projections as to collection of revenues in the current year, 2014," he added.

 The seniors, including yesterday's distribution, have already received P10,000 of the total P12,000 for this year.

Cuevas said the remaining P2,000 will be released on the early part of next year.

"Of course it will be next year. If I have my way, second week para sa Sinulog," Cuevas said.

She assured the seniors not to worry about it because the city government will surely give them the remaining balance.

"Ayaw lang gyud na ninyo problemaha kay last year bitaw 2014 na baya nato nahatag tanan (cash assistance)," she said.

Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs head Rolando Llaguno has also assured that the city government has already earmarked the remaining amount for it to be released next year.— (FREEMAN)