Rama dares Osmeña: Account pork barrel

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has challenged South District Rep. Tomas Osmeña to give an accounting of how he spent his P70 million pork barrel during his first year as congressman.

An irate Mayor issued the challenge yesterday following accusations from Osmeña of his alleged mismanagement in running the affairs of the city.

“Sayo pa kaayo karon nga hukman nako niya. Ingna siya nga ayaw pagsigi’g tan-aw nako kay basin siya na sa’y akong tan-awon,” Rama told reporters at the City Hall.

Rama blew his top after Osmeña repeatedly announced in his media interviews that the administration of Rama failed to attend to the needs of the constituents even if the city has billions of pesos in surplus when he left as mayor in June 30 last year.

Osmeña also criticized Rama for maintaining a single time deposit of P1 billion at the Philippine Veterans Bank instead of breaking the deposits into different banks. He explained that the bank insurance is only up to P200,000.

Rama said it was then city treasurer Ofelia Oliva who made the deposits and unfortunately she could no longer answer it because Osmeña allegedly manipulated her transfer out of Cebu City.

“Kanang giingong surplus nga gibilin niya wala pa na’y klaro. Kun tinuod man nga dunay surplus kwestyonable na kay nganong wala man kana gastoha nga daghan man kaayo og angay’ng gastohanan,” Rama said.

According to Rama, he would not be ashamed if his administration will not have any surplus because he believes that the government should not keep the money it has collected out of taxes but rather spend it for the good of the public.

Rama said Osmeña should account his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) during his first year because the people did not know of any major projects undertaken by him in the South District.

Osmeña took the challenge and said he will come up with an accounting before his first term ends on 2013. Initially, Osmeña said he used his pork barrel to help the fire victims in both North and South Districts by giving each of them P10,000 for those families whose houses were totally burned and P5,000 for those houses are partially damaged.

According to Osmeña, he had decided to give cash aids to all fire victims because the city “gives none” to them.

“My medical assistance to indigent families is up to P25,000 versus P5,000 from the city. This weekend I will be giving one sack of rice to each of the 280 scavengers in Inayawan because of loss of income,” he added.

Each congressman has P70 million pork barrel every year.  (FREEMAN)