Tom gives financial aid to cash-strapped Parian

Instead of granting only P345,000 financial assistance which was what Parian barangay officials originally requested to cover their honorarium from September to December last year, Mayor Tomas Osmeña doubled the amount and allowed for its release to cover the honorarium for the same period this year.

Parian barangay officials claimed that because of their failure to compel taxpayers to settle their accounts, the barangay is now in the wake of a financial crisis. Proof of this quandary is the inability of the barangay to pay the four-month honorarium of barangay employees from September to December of last year.

Barangay captain William Balaga said they already sent demand letters to delinquent taxpayers, particularly owners of real properties in the area, but those concerned reportedly continued to ignore the said letters.

This situation prompted the officials to ask for financial aid from Osmeña. In their letter to the mayor, the officials cited that despite the barangay's meager income, they did their best to prioritize the delivery of basic services to constituents and the granting of honorarium to barangay employees.

But because they are already in a "heavy financial crisis", they are imploring the city for monetary assistance.

"We are appealing that this would soften your heart and that you would help us through financial assistance so we can avail of our unpaid honoraria for four months," their letter read.

Despite Balaga's previous move of seeking for an election recall against Osmeña in 2002, the mayor set aside the issue and gave in to the request, in fact doubling the amount to cover honorarium for same period this year.

The city council has already approved the allocation of said amount. It was also made clear before the barangay officials that under the law, delinquent taxpayers could be slapped with a provision that allows local government units to sell their properties as a way to compel them to settle their obligations. - Rene U. Borromeo/MEEV