P3 million aid to BCLP passes legal review

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu City Legal Office (CLO) has recommended to Mayor Edgardo Labella the approval of a P3-million financial aid for the Barangay Councilors League of the Philippines-Cebu City Chapter.

The office specifically endorsed that the proposed memorandum of agreement between the city and BCLP for this purpose be given the greenlight.

Under the MOA, the city will be granting P3 million in financial assistance, which shall be appropriated for the implementation of BCLP’s plans, programs and projects.

The BCLP is composed of the barangay kagawads representing the various barangay councils in Cebu City.

The MOA cited Section 510 of the Local Government Code that provides that the leagues and federations may derive funds from contributions of the individual league and federation members from fund-raising projects and activities.

The LGU concerned, Cebu City government in this case, may appropriate funds to support the leagues or federation organized pursuant to Section 510, subject to the availability of funds.

Attorney Rey Gealon, city legal officer, said that the financial assistance of planned assistance the city will give to the league will “surely come a long way.”

“The barangay councilors, being at the forefront of public service in their respective barangays, can surely reciprocate help to the city in terms of efficiently and effectively delivering basic services to the people,” said Gealon.

The financial assistance will cover medical assistance, assemblies, conventions, trainings, seminars, calamity assistance, benchmarking and capability training, sports equipment, sports development for barangay officials, supplies, materials and other operating/incidental miscellaneous expenses of BCLP.

According to the rules, the BCLP shall submit an accomplishment report of each project undertaken within 60 days from the completion of the same.

Aside from recommending to Labella that the MOA be approved, the CLO has also recommended that a Sangguniang Panlungsod resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into the MOA be secured first.  KQD (FREEMAN)