Ong wants Garcia to reconsider order stopping fuel supply

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) President Franklyn Ong, speaking on behalf of the barangays captains, has asked Acting Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia for reconsideration over the order revoking the fuel subsidy for government vehicles, including those of the barangays.

In a June 18 memorandum addressed to the City’s Department of General Services (DGS) and all department and offices, Garcia directed the revocation of all fuel allocations to Cebu City government vehicles and those owned by the barangays and other government agencies that enjoy fuel subsidy from City Hall.

The order only exempts emergency and frontline vehicles such as ambulances, fire trucks, garbage trucks, and those vehicles under the City Council.

The memorandum specified that no new fuel allocation should be given to government vehicles without his express approval.

“Those who wish to avail of the fuel allocation must submit a letter request stating the intended use of the vehicle and the volume of fuel allocation requested. For your strict compliance and guidance,” read part of the order.

Garcia made the order following allegations that there are Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CCDRRMO) officials and employees who pilfer fuel from government vehicles for personal use.

Ong, though, argued that the barangays also need their service vehicles in the delivery of services to the people, as well as in reporting to the Department of Interior and Local Government and the City Hall offices, which are located in various areas around the city.

Ong sent a letter to Garcia shortly after the news on the revocation of the fuel allocations came out and asked that the barangays be exempted from it.

In his letter, Ong said they applaud the noble intent of the order and he personally supports it, “as it manifests your direction towards good governance; an act that defines and clearly demarcates our limitations as public servants.”

He, however, asked for reconsideration on the inclusion of “all barangay vehicles” as this would “adversely affect the delivery of basic services and the effective and efficient performance of all barangays' duties and responsibilities”.

“While I support your timely relevant initiative and duly respect your authority as the Acting City Mayor, I, as the representative of the eighty (80) barangays, cannot turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to the calls of our barangays for bridging their needs, insofar as optimizing delivery and performance of basic services are concerned,” he said.

Ong especially mentioned that there are barangays that are “far from the city government and other government offices” and they would “prejudiced should the city government tread towards a so-called drastic measure without first conducting a thorough deliberation.”

“In this light, I implore for your utmost attention and kindest consideration that we take a path where everyone is accorded due course, pending investigation of the reported corruptions engaged into by some employees of CCDRRMO,” he said.

“I fervently pray that while your office diligently looks into the root of these evil deeds, which I unconditionally support, we maintain a collective status quo insofar as the fuel allocations for the barangays in Cebu City are concerned,” he added. — /RHM (FREEMAN)