Will ‘holdover’ president of city councilors last?

WHO should lead the  league of barangay councilors in Cebu City?

The election of a new set of officials  was reset to Jan. 11, next year.

This was decided following a debate at their Christmas party  between incumbent president Franklyn Ong and his challenger Raymond Alvin Garcia.

Garcia, a lawyer, questioned Ong’s “holdover” presidency of the Barangay Councilors League when  Ong’s  term as councilman of barangay Kasambagan ended on Nov. 30.

Even Ong’s reelection as councilor is not enough to justify his stay, said Garcia.

“Let’s decide on a date for the BCLP election.   This is a general assembly and everybody wants to know,” said Garcia, son of former city mayor Alvin Garcia.
Garcia and other newly elected councilors from his slate wore Team Rama shirts when they took their oath of office as league members before Ong.
Mayor Michael Rama arrived at the venue about 7 p.m. Ong thanked  him for the city’s support of the league, which received P3 million assistance in 2011 and 2012.

Later on, former mayor Tomas Osmeña arrived after Rama had left.

At least 443 of  560  league members gathered at the Mariners Court near pier 1 in Cebu City last Tuesday for their second general assembly.

During an open forum, Busay barangay councilor Eleodoro Sanchez brought up league bylaws which prohibit  a holdover capacity by their elected officials.

Sanchez is  seeking election as the league’s vice president for the north district under Garcia’s slate.

Ong said the city government should help defray the cost of  holding the BCLP election.

In a related development, the city’s barangay officials received their financial assistance for October to November from the Cebu City government at 10 a.m. yesterday.

Barangay chairpersons each received P9,000 while barangay councilors,  treasurers and secretaries each received P5,400.

The distribution was made at the roof deck of the City Hall executive building.

Acting City Treasurer Diwa Cuevas said the Sanguniang Kabataan (SK) presidents whose terms ended last Nov. 30 also received their October and November assistance.

Cuevas said the December assistance for barangay and SK officials will be scheduled sometime soon while the distribution of the P2,000 assistance for senior citizens will be held tomorrow.

She said there is still no schedule for the P2,000 balance of the P5,000 assistance to Persons With Disabilities (PWDs).