21 Mandaue brgys give poll expense shares

CEBU, Philippines - At least 21 out 27 barangays of  Mandaue City have already given their financial contributions to the Commission on Elections to help defray the expenses in the upcoming barangay elections.

Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) president Ernie Manatad of Barangay Subangdaku said that the remaining  six barangays  have yet to give their P10,000 financial contributions to Comelec.

The amount will be used by the Comelec to pay for the honoraria of teachers who will serve during the elections.

Some 1,551 teachers will serve in Mandaue City for the barangay elections on October 28. Each of them is entitled to transportation allowance of P500.

The six barangays that are yet to pay for their contribution are Barangays Centro, Jagobiao, Maguikay, Opao, Tabok and Umapad.

Manatad said most of the barangays approved a supplemental budget to be able to give their contribution.

Meanwhile, only two out of the 22 barangays of Talisay City have, so far, gave the P10,000 required contribution.

Talisay City assistant Comelec officer, Anna-Lou Bacho, said that as of yesterday only Barangays Lawaan III and San Isidro have paid their contribution.

The other barangays reportedly asked for more time because they have yet to approve a budget for the purpose.

The ABC in Talisay is scheduled to meet today to discuss the required election contributions.

According to Bacho, the barangays have until October 18 to pay their election contribution. Failure to contribute is an election offense under the Comelec Resolution No. 9739.

Section 8 of Republic Act No. 9164 as amended by Section 4 of Republic Act No. 9340 states that the appropriations of the Commission which shall be used for the implementation of the said statutes may be augmented by an amount not exceeding the ten percent (10%) of the general fund of barangays which have been reserved and set aside for the Sangguniang Kabataan pursuant to Section 532 (c) of the Local Government Code.

Part of the said Comelec resolution says “after due deliberation, the Commission En Banc, by virtue of the powers vested in it by the Constitution, the Omnibus Election Code, the Local Government Code, and Republic Acts Nos. 6653, 6679, 8524, 9164, and 9340, hereby resolves: To require all local government units (LGUs) to set aside such amounts as may be necessary to augment the appropriations of the Commission for the conduct of the 2013 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, which in no case shall be less than Ten Thousand Pesos (PHP 10,000.00) but not more than ten per centum(10%) of the general fund of Barangays which have been reserved and set aside for the Sangguniang Kabataan.”—(FREEMAN)