Suppliers hit slow release of payments

CEBU, Philippines - Some barangay captains complained against the slow release of payments to suppliers even if the budget was already taken from their barangay funds.

Association of Barangay Councils president and ex-officio city councilor Michael Ralota yesterday said he has been receiving complaints not only from the barangay chiefs but also from the suppliers.

According to him, some suppliers will no longer supply the needs of the barangays because of the procedures implemented and the delay in the payment. They are supplying office supplies, food, material and equipment for the vehicles, among others.

“Dili nalang gani mi mangutang ug mokuot nalang mi sa among kaugalingong bulsa kay two to three months pa ni ang ubang suppliers mabayran,” said Capitol Site barangay captain Manuel Guanzon.

Tejero barangay captain Jessielou Cadungog, in his letter addressed to city accountant Arlene Rentuza, said the barangays has enough funds to sustain the implementation of the projects in their areas but it would be harder for them to implement them due to the delay in the payments for suppliers.

“We are not accountants but too much bureaucracy will not help us,” Cadungog stressed.

Cadungog seeks assistance from Rentuza to address the problem immediately otherwise their credit line with their suppliers will suffer.

City accounting financial control division chief Agnes Tabares, in a separate interview with reporters, admitted that they are aware of the complaints of the barangays.

Tabares is appealing to the barangay captains to be patient considering that they are carefully checking if all necessary documents in their respective financial reports are attached.

“We are verifying all the supporting documents kay ilaha ra man pud ni ang atong gibuhat aron dili na mausab ang nahitabo kaniadto,” Tabares said.

Tabares explained that with the limited manpower, they are having a hard time consolidating all documents because they are not only handling the barangay reports but also the city’s transactions.

“If we will concentrate on this, then ma-suffer man pud ang ubang transactions,” Tabares added. (FREEMAN)