VM assails P60M budget for school supplies, buses

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young has criticized Mayor Michael Rama for allocating P60 million from the city school board fund to buy school supplies and buses while most public elementary and high schools lack the needed classrooms.

Over 100 job order employees in the school board are also complaining because they have not been paid of their salary since April.

Young described Rama’s move as “pure politics” because the school supplies alleged bear his name and the other city officials.

Young explained that only a few will benefit the two school buses that the city government wishes to buy because it could not accommodate everybody while the school supplies are not lasting compared to school buildings.

According to Young, Rama will surely distribute the school supplies personally and would ask the parents to listen to his speeches. Besides, Young said giving supplies in August is already late.

Rama however said that giving school supplies was also practiced by South District Rep. Tomas Osmeña during his term as mayor. The practice however was stopped by the Commission on Audit.

“Sige lang okay ra na. Sa ilahang time pwede nganung sa ako dili man. It’s helping the people and helping the school children. Giving them on August will never be too late, it’s a continuous thing,” Rama said.

On the other hand, more than 100 “job order” employees under the school board have complained to Young that they were not paid of their salary since April.

Young said he is very concern about it because several employees like school carpenters might be compelled to accept another jobs to support their needs.

The vice mayor believes that the release of the salaries of the job order employees was delayed because nobody is supervising it.

Rama has designated Councilor Jose Daluz III to represent in the school board. However, Young believes that Daluz was too busy to attend to his extra job at the school board.

The FREEMAN found out that the payroll for the month of April is still at the accounting office while the payroll for the month of May is at the budget office.

Job order employees are those that are paid based on minimum wage, but they will not receive other benefits. They are hired for certain projects and can be terminated as soon as the project is completed. — (FREEMAN)