Cebu City Mayor Rama wants financial aid exempted from ban

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Rama appeals to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to exempt the financial assistance to senior citizens and other social amelioration program of the city government from the ongoing election ban in line upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

Rama was disappointed to learn that the barangay health workers have not received their honorarium due to the election ban.

Comelec resolution 10944 prohibits the release, disbursement or expenditure of public funds for social welfare projects from September 15 to October 2023 except for the assistance to individuals in crisis situations.

Rama said questioned that logic behind the prohibition against the city government when he is not a candidate in the BSKE. He also reiterated that he is not supporting any candidate for the barangay.

"I will go to COMELEC for that… There is no logic, fairness. Wala man ang Mayor nidagan…Also, I already said I am an independent mayor,” Rama said.

The mayor said the senior citizens badly need their financial assistance for their maintenance medicine. Rama said the honorarium of barangay health workers should not be covered by the ban.

Rama has ordered the personnel department of the city to look into what other incentives have been affected by the election ban.

COMELEC Cebu City North District election officer Atty. Marchel Sarno clarified that the release of honorariums for barangay workers is not covered by the election ban. — (FREEMAN)