ABC president wants in as POWE signatory

CEBU, Philippines -  The Cebu City Council is requesting Mayor Michael Rama and the Department of Engineering and Public Works to include the president of the Association of Barangay Councils as one of the signatories of Program of Works and Estimates of infrastructure projects in the barangays.

ABC President Michael Ralota said he observed that several infrastructure projects were implemented by the city government in the barangays without proper coordination with the concerned barangay officials just because the funds used for the project come from the city.

Ralota claimed that it is a standard operating procedure that all barangay development and infrastructure projects involving the disbursement and release of barangay funds that include the “Aid to the Barangays” funds and the requirement of POWE require the approval of the ABC president as chairman of the Barangay Affairs Committee of the City Council.

He further said that the barangay captain’s signature and approval should be required upon the completion of the infrastructure and development projects in order to certify and guarantee that the agreed project specifications and other technical details are being faithfully complied with by the contractors.

“Ideally, honest-to-goodness consultations and proper coordination between the city government and the concerned barangay officials should be conducted first before the implementation of various infrastructure and development projects in their respective territorial jurisdictions,” Ralota said.

But councilor Jose Daluz III said he believes that the inclusion of the ABC president as one of the signatories of POWE might only cause further delay in the implementation of projects.

“Pareho gud ta nga mga busy kaayo. Dili ta pirmi nga makit-an aron makapirma sa mga dukomento,” said Daluz.

Daluz even said he is planning to request the mayor that his name be removed from the signatories of POWE because it will only contribute to further delay the implementation of projects.

“Wala’y problema kon kuhaon ang akong ngalan gikan sa mga signatories sa POWE kon ang pagbuhat niini makapadali sa pagpatuman sa mga proyekto,” the mayor said.

Rama also said he is not against the request that the ABC president will be included as one of the signatories of POWE for barangay projects.   (FREEMAN)