Council OKs P400 million cash aid to barangays

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Council approved on Wednesday, May 15, a P400-million financial assistance to the barangays with 16 of the city’s 80 barangays getting the lion share.

Through a resolution authored by Councilors Franklyn Ong, Liga ng mga Barangay president, and Jocelyn Pesquera, the City Council approved the release of the cash assistance.

Based on the resolution, 16 barangays will each receive a whooping P13 million while the rest will get P3 million each.

The 16 barangays include Adlaon, Agsungot, Basak San Nicolas, Budlaan, Buot, Cambinocot, Kamagayan, Lusaran, Mabini, Pahina San Nicolas, Pamutan, Paril, Pung-ol Sibugay, Sinsin, Sta. Cruz, and Sudlon I.

Ong explained that most of these barangays need more assistance from the city government because they have lesser annual budget allocations and could not afford to fund their programs and projects on their own. Although the allocations were largely based on the projects and programs submitted by the barangay officials.

According to the City’s News and Information report, this financial assistance to barangays is included in the city’s annual budget. Although, the allocation per barangay was based on the submitted proposed projects and programs from the barangays.

DELAYED BRIDGE

PROJECT

Meanwhile, the City Council has approved a resolution asking the contractor of the bridge rehabilitation project at Sitio Candarong in Barangay Pulangbato to appear in an executive session to explain the delay in the project.

Also invited are the officials of the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) and Commission on Audit (COA).

Councilor Noel Wenceslao, Chairman of the Committee on Budget and Finance, raised during a privilege speech the concern of the barangay officials of Pulangbato of the need for a reinforced deck girder bridge connecting sitio Candarong to Tanay road.

According to Wenceslao, he was told that the project, which the city government allocated P24 million, started in September 15, 2023 and was supposed to be done within 240 calendar days.

Wenceslao said that it has been 243 days since the contractor, SVD Builders, started the project.

"So supposedly, nahuman na unta na ang proyekto," said Wenceslao.

The councilor noted that when he visited the project he only found three personnel working at the site and the excavation is still on going.

"Nya wala pa gani maiilisi ang foundation, ang beams ug ang poste, in other words, Mr. Chairman, layo pa kayo sa kahumanan," said Wenceslao.

He said the barangay officials and the residents of Pulangbato are "worried" about the situation because the public and their vehicles are currently crossing the river just to get on the other side.

"Maglisod na silag agi, ang sakyanan ug ang mga tawo sa sapa," said Wenceslao. — /FPL (FREEMAN)