Barangay workers’ honorarium withheld

CEBU, Philippines — Tanods, health workers and other government frontliners of barangays in Liloan flocked to the Capitol Monday morning to claim their annual honorarium from provincial government, only to be refused.

Cotcot Barangay Captain Lorena Yungco, who accompanied her barangay workers to the Capitol, said what baffles them is the reason for the non-release since the money was “liquidated” already.

She said aside from Cotcot, barangay workers from Jubay, San Vicente and Mulao also did not get their incentives. Yungco said the distribution was done last Friday but they were not able to attend because of prior engagement.

According to Yungco, the Provincial Treasurer’s Office told them that the money was already subject of liquidation. She said 17 health workers from Cotcot were expecting to receive P2,400 each while 15 barangay tanods and five lupon members were supposed to get P1,500 each.

Yungco said the Provincial Legal Office told them that the distribution is in fact ongoing in other municipalities but they cannot promise that those who missed during the schedule will still get their incentive.

Jubay barangay chairman Pablito Angtud said they were not able to attend during the scheduled distribution last Friday because they did not receive a formal communication from the Capitol.

Angtud said at least 10 tanods from his barangay and some health workers were expecting to receive the incentives yesterday. He said they will again visit the Capitol next week to try to claim their incentive.

Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III clarified there was nothing political in the distribution of cash incentives. He said political alliances were never a factor in the distribution.

According to Davide, some of the barangays did not show up during the distribution because they were allegedly not allowed to.

Vice Governor Agnes Magpale explained that it is difficult to delay the distribution of the incentives because the money comes from cash advances.

She said they need another cash advances to proceed to another town but they could not do it without first liquidating the previous cash advances.

“We knew that they were there… Gi –announce nga kutob ra atong adlawa. But those who followed us to Consolacion got it. Dili unta masakripisyo ang ubang lungsod tungod lang sa kapritso nila nga sila’y namulitika,” said Magpale. Christele Isabela B. Basco(FREEMAN)