ABC chief wants barangay execs to attend Labella meeting

CEBU, Philippines — Franklyn Ong, President of the Liga ng mga Barangay ng Pilipinas-Cebu City Chapter, will encourage all 80 barangay captains to attend mayor-elect Edgardo Labella’s planned meeting to address the city’s recurring flood and garbage problems which residents have once again felt heavily with the onset of the rainy season.

“That’s a very welcome development,” said Ong, captain of Barangay Kasambagan. “We are working with the mayor for the betterment of our barangays.”

Labella has cited a memorandum issued by the Department of the Interior and Local Government which states sanctions will be imposed on barangay officials who will not do their part in garbage collection.

Ong said that barangay officials already know that they should help in ensuring the cleanliness of their turf. In fact, he said each barangay has proposals and programs that need the support of the city government.

Fifty of the Cebu City barangay captains are allied with Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK), the rival party of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP)-Laban which Labella currently heads.

Ong said that Labella, who has promised an inclusive kind of governance, has vowed to work with these barangay captains despite party affiliations.

Ong also said that he will ask the city’s Department of General Services to repair vehicles that the city government plans to donate to barangays because majority, if not all, have not prepared a budget for its maintenance, repair, and fuel allocation.

The City Council has been passing several resolutions authorizing outgoing Mayor Tomas Osmeña to sign and execute a deed of donation and acceptance of several city-owned vehicles to the barangays.

This will mean that the barangays will shoulder the expenses for the maintenance, repair, and fuel allocation but the mayor has the discretion which barangays the city will extend its assistance to. (FREEMAN)