Rama vows aid to brgys; asks support in city’s CPA, MCWD issues

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama has assured newly-elected barangay officials that there will be no political color in the distribution of financial assistance for their respective projects.

This was promised by Mayor Rama during one of the Barangay Newly Elected Officials (BNEO) Towards Grassroots Renewal and Empowerment for Accountable and Transparent (GREAT) Barangays Program.

However, in return for the city’s support to the barangays, Rama had ask for the barangay officials’ prayers and support in their fight for what is right for the city of Cebu, including on matters with the Cebu Port Authority, Metro Cebu Water District, as well as with the brewing differences with Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia, who has recently been vocal on such matters.

Gov.Garcia said earlier she has expressed support for CPA and MCWD for the sake of the general welfare of the Cebuanos.

“Tabangi lang gyud ko ninyo palihug. I am fighting for what is right and I am fighting for God,” Mayor Rama said.

The financial assistance that the Mayor mentioned is intended for the different projects that the barangays had earlier asked for support from the City government.

Rama said if the barangay assistance will not be processed soon, he is going to fire the employees supposedly handling it.

“I have instructed kadtong atoang barangay financial assistance kon dili nila i-process ako silang tangtangon,” Mayor Rama said through the City’s News and Information team.

Liga ng mga Barangay-Cebu City chapter president and ex-officio city councilor Franklyn Ong, on the other hand, pledged to give laptops to the barangays that will help them complete all the modules of the BNEO seminar.

The said equipment is expected to help with the barangay’s office digitization. This project is under the Advanced Barangay Computerization (ABC) Program.

Such project is also in line with Mayor Rama’s vision of making Cebu City, a smarter city.

Meanwhile, the three-module BNEO seminar aims to capacitate the newly-elected barangay officials to enable them to perform their mandated tasks and responsibilities.

According to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Cebu City, the 80 Cebu City barangays were divided into three batches to keep the seminar interactive. — (FREEMAN)