Four councilors condemn JVR for bypassing council

CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City council members said it was wrong for Mayor Johnny De los Reyes to extend help to towns in northern Cebu without consulting the city council.

Councilors Danilo Caballero and Aldrin Diaz, who are allied with Mayor Johnny De los Reyes, and majority floor leader Richard Francis Aznar and Dennis Basillote, who are with the opposition, said the city council did not approve a resolution granting the chief executive authority to extend assistance to the LGU’s in the northern Cebu. 

“It needs the council’s approval if assistance is to be extended to LGUs,” Caballero said. 

In today’s council session, Aznar pointed out that there were no matters discussed about the assistance to LGU’s in northern Cebu. 

Around 90 percent of houses and structures in Bantayan Island were severely damaged.

The island is composed of three municipalities — Bantayan, Sta. Fe, and Madridejos.

Severely battered by Yolanda were also the northern towns of Daan Bantayan, San Remigio, Tabuelan, Sogod, Borbon, Tabogon. Medellin and Poro, Pilar, Tudela and San Francisco in the Camotes group of islands.

De los Reyes already extended 30 sacks of rice to Medellin.

He will also send assistance to other LGU’s.

The mayor said he was charging the assistance to the calamity fund. 

But Aznar said that there was no document presented to show that the city council was aware or if its approval was sought.

Basillote also said that “nindot na ang paghatag katong naigo sa bagyo, usa na sa ka maayong buhat sa mayor pero kinahanglan tan-awon nato ang atong tugkaran.”

Meanwhile, Cebu 4th District Rep. Benhur Salimbagon, in an interview over a local radio station, called out to the national government not to forget them as the affected community residents in his district are in dire need of food and water.

Government is now maximizing its resources using C-130 planes of the Philippine Air Force to swiftly transport relief goods to homeless families now living in evacuation centers in northern Cebu and particularly in worst-hit Tacloban City where at least 10,000 people are feared dead in the whole Leyte province.

Apart from cries for food and water, victims also beg for mats, blankets, slippers, clothes, medicines, and tents.  (FREEMAN)