Rep. Garcia to allocate funds for Ronda roads

CEBU – Cebu Second District Rep. Pablo John Garcia promised P100,000 as financial assistance to the barangays of Ronda town for their road concreting projects.

Ronda is a fifth-class municipality, composed of 14 barangays and has a total annual income of P20 million.

In his aim to help the barangays improve their roads, Garcia announced he will give them P70,000 that will be taken from his Priority Development Assistance Fund while the remaining P30,000 will be divided between Provincial Board members Peter John Calderon and Wilfredo Caminero.

In a recent consultative meeting, the barangay captains expressed various concerns, especially since they have yet to receive the 360 bags of cement from the provincial government as its counterpart for the barangay road concreting projects.

The reason for the delay in the release of the cement is that the local government of Ronda has not yet signed a memorandum of agreement with the Capitol and the barangays.

The standing conflict between the town’s Mayor Esteban Sia and Vice Mayor Mariano Blanco III has reportedly affected the implementation of projects in the town.

The bickering between Sia and Blanco started even before the 2007 elections that worsened after Sia defeated Blanco’s mother, Victoria Blanco in the mayoralty race.

But Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia asked the town’s Association of Barangay Captains President Eugenio Ungab to coordinate with the Provincial Planning and Development Office regarding their problem.

Aside from that, the governor also reminded them of the priorities set by the province regarding financial assistance.

“Sumala sa akong giingon, labihang kadaghan gyud ang mga panginahanglan, di man gyud ni nato matubag tanan, unahon gyud nato sa atong gilantaw nga mao gyuy labaw nga makahatag og mas dakong benepisyo alang sa mas daghan,” Gov. Garcia said. — Garry B. Lao/WAB (THE FREEMAN)