Parents to Sambag 1 officials: Spare kids from disagreement

CEBU, Philippines - Parents of at least 40 children enrolled at the Day Care Center in Barangay Sambag 1, Cebu City have expressed dismay over the absence of electricity at the center, which has reportedly affected the studies of the kids.

In a letter to the city government, the parents said the barangay should have spared the children from the discomfort. The barangay has not paid its electricity bills because it does not have a treasurer.

Five out of seven barangay councilmen have opposed the appointment of  Connie Abella as replacement for Filomeno Chuntik and did not allow Abella to withdraw the funds to pay for the barangay’s bills.

“Ang ilang walay pagsinabtanay dili lang unta iapil ang mga bata. Ngano man ang mga bata may pahimungtan? Ngano man ang mga bata ila man paantuson sa kangit-ngit ug kainit sa classroom?” the parents’ letter reads.

Barangay Captain Lemar Alcover said that aside from the non-payment of the bills, the 90 employees  of the barangay hall including the eight officials have also not received their salary equivalent for almost three months.

Alcover said the Department of Interior and Local Government-7 and the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas have said that there was nothing wrong in his decision to terminate Chuntik.

City Councilor Sisinio Andales said the City Council has referred the matter to the DILG-7 and to the Department of Social Welfare and Services. —/JMO (FREEMAN)