CCUVA founder willing to face accounting challenge

CEBU, Philippines - The founder of the Cebu City United Vendors Association is willing to give their members an accounting of all funds that CCUVA had received from the monthly dues of their 176 various affiliated vendors groups.

Ermita barangay councilman Felicisimo “Emok” Rupinta, who now serves CCUVA adviser, claimed that their organization only receives about P11,000 monthly dues and it is only enough to pay for the honorarium of their office staff and bills.

Rupinta denied that each vendor is required to pay monthly dues to CCUVA, and said that it is their respective vendors’ groups, which he calls “kapunongan” that is paying P300 to P600 to CCUVA every month, depending on the number of their members.

According to Rupinta, of the 76 vendors’ groups affiliated with CCUVA, only 67 are actively paying their monthly dues to their umbrella organization.

But while Rupinta said that CCUVA only receives P11,000 to P12,000 every month from the monthly dues of the 67 active vendors’ organizations, the amount would already reach P20,100.

Rupinta said some other vendors’ groups that have more members like the Landing Area Vendors Organization (LAVO), operating at Carbon Public Market, are reportedly paying P600 monthly dues to CCUVA.

Cebu City South District Rep. Tomas R. Osmeña earlier challenged Rupinta to give an accounting of CCUVA’s collections from their members.

This, after Osmeña received reports that each of the vendors operating along V. Rama Avenue in barangay Guadalupe, is paying P14 every week, or at P2 daily, to CCUVA for being members of the organization.

Rupinta said the vendors are paying P10 everyday and not P2, but these are given directly to their respective groups, who are only required to pay P300 to P600 to CCUVA every month.

“Dako man og gastohan ang mga vendors’ group sama sa pagsweldo og tiglimpyo sa ilang lugar ug ang uban nagsuhol usab og peacekeepers, (These vendors’ groups have a lot of expenses including the payment for those who clean their areas while some also pay for peacekeepers.)” he added.

 When asked if he want to furnish Osmeña a copy of their accounting, Rupinta said “Unsa may labot ana niya nga ako man nga hatagan? (Why should I give him when he is not part of our association?)” (FREEMAN)