CEBU, Philippines - In the absence of elected town officials, all the barangays in the municipality of Compostela, Cebu are directly getting their assistance from Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.
Garcia met all the 17 barangay captains yesterday at the Capitol to hear their concerns regarding the delivery of basic services and the implementation of projects in their respective barangays.
“Akong gipatawag tanang mga kapitan kay atong gitinguha nga ang atong tabang sa Kapitolyo ato nalang idirekta ngadto gyud sa mga kapitan aron sila na ang molihok sa tagsatagsa ka barangay,” Garcia told reporters.
The meeting was the opportune time also for the barangay captains to express thanks and gratitude to the governor in a form of resolution that they have presented.
“Even at the moment of grief that we have no municipal mayor in our town, you are with us to serve as our shoulder to cry on,” the resolution reads.
“Matandog man sad ta ani, bisan sa inyo kalisud nakahunahuna pa gihapon mo og pasalamat,” Garcia said in response.
Garcia pointed out that this is the first in Philippine history where a town has no set of officials such as a council to enact the budget and a mayor to implement the programs.
The barangay captains reported the bad state of provincial roads as well as barangay roads leading up to mountain barangays from town proper particularly in Barangay Guimbal up to Barangay Tag-ubi.
This prompted Garcia to order Provincial Engineer Eulogio Pelayre to send heavy equipment and personnel to the area and to make the necessary repairs.
Garcia is set to visit the town on February 1 to inspect the road repairs and to deliver the checks and multicabs each barangay has requested.
Each barangay will get P200,000 for improvement of barangay hall; P100,000 for improvement of day care and health centers; and 50,000 for socio-cultural activities.
Each barangay will also get 360 bags of cement plus P50,000 for aggregates for barangay road concreting which labor expenses shall be shouldered by the barangay.
Provincial Planning and Development Officer Engr. Adolfo Quiroga said that the aggregates are supposed to be shouldered by the municipal government under the agreement but in the case of Compostela, the province will pay.
Garcia will also bring in more services for agriculture and health during her visit next month.
Association of Barangay Councils president Joven Amor said they badly need assistance for the infrastructure projects.
“Nakapadayag gyud mi sa mga problema namo didto,” said Amor after the meeting with the governor. – (FREEMAN)