Barangay youth programs to get P1 million

CEBU, Philippines — With all new officers of the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation allies of his group, the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan, Mayor Tomas Osmeña said yesterday he will give P1 million for youth programs to each of the city’s 80 barangays.

On the eve of the elections, the mayor announced he would give the P1 million with one caveat: the new federation president should support his administration.

Yesterday, though, he clarified that it will be the SK officers that will choose the projects for which the money would be spent.

"I'm not a dictator, contrary to what others said. We're just trying to develop options for you and balance it with guidance and options, but you make the decisions. You choose the projects," Osmeña said.

Osmeña's group, the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan, also claimed victory with the election of Jessica Resch as SK Federation president as this would mean BOPK will need just one seat more to claim the majority in the Cebu City Council.

The presidents of the SK Federation and Association of Barangay Councils Federation will sit as ex-officio members of the Council beginning July.

ABC will elect its federation president next month.

Resch of Barangay San Nicolas Proper won over Sonia Cal of Barangay Tisa with 44 votes.

The other new officers are Joseph Gepte of T. Padilla, vice president; Dexter Auxtero of Buhisan, secretary; Anton Miñoza of Pulangbato, treasurer; Trisha De Castro of Pahina Central, auditor; Sharmaine Maloloy-on of Mambaling, public relations officer; and Jhansien Malapit of Labangon and Samson Go of Zapatera as sergeants at arms.

Osmeña himself administered the oath to the new officers at Parklane International Hotel where the elections were held.

He told them that his doors are open to all SK officers regardless of political affiliation.

"We have a major challenge because there have been before arguments that the SK is a waste of time and a waste of money. You're going to prove that wrong," the mayor said.

President

Filipino-Austrian, 21-year-old Resch is an industrial engineering graduate from the University of San Carlos.

She vowed to fight for the rights of the youth and to unify all SK leaders in the city.

"Sa tanan jud nga SK chair… mao na ako silang iusa tanan kay ganahan ko komportable ko sa tanang chairman nga makigstorya nila, makigtrabaho nila… wala ko'y boundary nga gipangita para lang magkagubot, wala ko ana. I want unity para sa tanang SK chairman," she said.

She has initial plans but said she will consult with the other SK chairmen on the programs they would want implemented.

Cal, a supporter of Barug Team Rama, said she expected the results because majority of the SK chairpersons are reportedly supporters of BOPK.

She said she expects the federation to be non-partisan in the implementation of programs and projects.

She lost to Resch by 10 points.

Voting

Emma Joyevelyn Calvo, acting director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Cebu City, said the SK officers voted through secret balloting.

Two chairpersons did not cast their votes.

Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia, a member of the opposition, said four SK chairpersons - one from the north and three from the south district - were reportedly overage and should not have participated in the federation elections.

Opposition member Ramil Ayuman of Barangay Apas even went to the hotel to show documents to discredit the four, but Calvo said the DILG did not receive a notice of disqualification from the Commission on Elections yesterday, which was why the Board of Election Supervisors decided to let the four chairpersons vote. Joyce Ann Gabutan /JMO (FREEMAN)