City dads eye P528M aid to brgys

CEBU, Philippines - To fund the infrastructure projects of the 80 barangays, the Cebu City Council has requested the city’s budget and accounting offices to obligate last year’s P528 million financial assistance to all barangays.

Councilor Eugenio Gabuya, who authored the said request, said this is to enable the barangays to implement programs and services for the benefits of their constituents.

Last year, at least four barangays were able to liquidate their previous year’s assistance which, in effect, entitled them to receive the full amount of P6.6 million under the maintenance and other operation expenses (MOOE).

These barangays are Lahug, Basak San Nicolas, Mabini and Punta Princesa.

The Appropriations Ordinance No. 2348 authorizes the budget of Cebu City for 2013 which includes P6.6 million of financial assistance to every barangay.

This is in accordance with Section 324 of the Republic Act 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, which provides financial assistance barangays.

The request came after 76 barangays failed to liquidate the financial assistance from 2011 and 2012.

Supposedly, these barangays can no longer claim the financial assistance since the account closes at the end of the year.

However, if they were able to submit the obligation request before the year ends, they can still avail of the assistance.

Reportedly, the 12 barangays in north and south districts were not able to finish the obligation request, which is very vital for appropriation of P6.6 million.

These barangays are Buhisan, Guadalupe, Labangon and San Nicolas Proper in the south while barangays Banilad, Carreta, Cogon, Ramos, Kalubihan, Mabolo, Pari-an, Sto. Niño and Talamban in the north.

It was former councilor, lawyer Jose Daluz III, who pushed for the P4 million cash aid for the rest of the barangays that didn’t able to claim their share from the city government.

This was discussed in a meeting with the local finance committee early this year.

He said the amount is better than nothing.  (FREEMAN)