Rupinta: Those who really helped clean spill paid

CEBU, Philippines - Ermita Barangay Captain Felicisimo Rupinta said yesterday that the “legitimate” beneficiaries of the emergency employment program after the Department of Labor and Employment have received the financial assistance intended for them.

   He said the fisherfolk who have complained of non-payment for the work they did in helping remove the oil spill in the area in 2013 are not covered by the program but were reportedly promised a share.

“Mga fisher folk sa Mambaling, dala sa Duljo, nag-boluntaryo sila ug limpyo sa oil spill sa wala pa ang emergency employment (program). Wala sila suholi ato kay voluntary man apan gisaaran sila nga matagaan, I don’t know na-unsa to ilaha, then na-abot na to ang emergency employment funds,” Rupinta said.

The oil that spilled at sea off the barangay came from the sunken MV St. Thomas Aquinas, which collided with a cargo vessel.

Dolorosa Jumawan, DOLE-7 Senior Labor and Employment Officer of Tri-City Field Office, said they were able to release the financial assistance in June 2014.

 “Sila na ang nag-facilitate sa pag-distribute sa kwarta kay sila man ang naka-identify sa mga beneficiaries,” she said.

She disclosed that the money was coursed through Barangay Ermita with Rupinta as the assigned person for the program receiving the monetary assistance amounting to P752, 000. Rupinta said the list of names of the fisher folk presented to DOLE was endorsed through Bantay Dagat Commission Director Ranulfo Sebusa. 

 “Katong nalista nila nga ni-volunteer sa oil spill cleaning maoy giduso nila ni Sedusa sa DOLE og maoy gipa-apil og gipatarbaho para makakuha sa among funds,” he said.

“Basin wala to siya (Sebusa) hatagi. Natabonan ang iyang saad sa mga tawo, gipasakay atong emergency employment. Karon okay ra ko, basta mo-trabaho, dili ka motrabaho, dili ka apilon,” Rupinta said.

Sebusa said earlier the money allocated for the program was not directed to the Bantay Dagat Commission but through the Coastal Management Board. Officials of the latter declined to comment.

Jumawan said the initiative was presented with a project proposal to validate the program. Liquidation was also submitted to DOLE.

 She said there were fisher folk who brought the concern up to DOLE but they were told to channel the same through the local government unit concerned.

Apart from those from Mambaling, Rupinta said he had convened the fisher folk from Barangays Ermita, Pasil, Duljo Fatima, Basak and Inayawan to clarify that the financial assistance does not cover those volunteered to help clean the spill.

 The names of the fisher folk were listed during the meeting, but Rupinta said the list will not necessarily determine who will receive the monetary assistance.

 “Kung magpalista mo karon, trabaho mo kay kon dili mo motrabaho bisan nagpalista mo dili jud mo tagaan. Very strict (ang pagmonitor kay) kon naay late minusan. Naa may time keeper,” he said.

 “Katong naa sa payroll apan wala taga-i kay wala motrabaho apan magpasweldo lang, dili to tagaan, unsay timailhan? wala makapirma sa attendance. Nganong sweldohan man ang mga tawo nga wala manarbaho?” he said further.

 He said what may have triggered the fisher folk to complain was the decision not to give the aid to those who were not present during the scheduled clean ups.

 “So diha na-trigger gamay nga kasikas, gamay’ng estorya, mga bagulbol, nganong wala man mi gitagaan nga oil spill man mi? Tagaan jud mi bahalag absent, ah dili ko mosugot ana,” Rupinta said.

 He recalled that they were around 300 fisher folk from different barangays who were compensated at P300 per day. The emergency employment program lasted for three weeks or a month and at least P700,000 were distributed.

 He said they were able to liquidate the expenses together with the names of those involved in the clean ups.

Rupinta assured DOLE that a copy of the certification to prove the money had been liquidated will be furnished to the office. — (FREEMAN)