News Briefs

PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES SEEK INCREASED AID

PERSONS with Disabilities (PWDs) asked  City Hall to increase Cebu city’s financial assistance to them to P5,000 a year.

Leonilo Umayan, PWD ferederation head, said they also have maintenance medication like senior citizens.

He took note of  Mayor Michael Rama’s  pledge to increase the city’s assistance to senior citizens.

The city has 12,000 registered PWDs of whom 6,237  passed the validation process to qualify for the city’s P3,000 annual assistance.

The first part worth P2,000 will be released  on July 31, the end  of the PWD month celebration The remaining P1, 000 will be released in December 2012.

Social Worker Virgie Piccio said she will soon submit to Mayor Rama a proposal to increase PWD assistance to P5,000 next year.

Efforts are also being made  to request the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to assign a  precinct for use for PWDs and senior citizens.

Rama promised during his State of the City Address to increase senior citizens assistance from P7,000 this year to P10,000 next year if he’s reelected.  Cash aid will be further increased to P12,000 in 2014.

The mayor said he will study  the PWD proposal and help  lobby with Comelec for a special precinct for them.

PWDs can register for membership at the city’s PWD office. They have to  bring  a voter’s certificate, a medical certificate and ID photos.

Only those registered as Cebu City voters since 2007 can  avail of the P3,000 aid for PWDs. Correspondent Edison delos Angeles

BARANGAY CAPTAIN, FIRMS FACE GRAFT RAPS

THE Ombudsman-Visayas recommended the filing of criminal charges against the former barangay captain of Poblacion, Tuburan town in Cebu and three companies due to alleged irregular bidding of construction materials.

Severo Evales is accused of violating Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act and Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Also accused of violating RA 9184 are Phebe Potencioso of XLA General Merchandise, Riolito Salvo of World Trade Enterprises and James Bardoquillo of DLJ General Merchandise.

The anti-graft office said there was  clear evidence that Evales signed and approved the Program of Works in relation to the items or materials bidded on by the three private firms.

Evales approved in September  2006 the purchase of materials worth P450,000 for  a multi-purpose building.  But the anti-graft office said the program of works approved by Evales and the bid of proposals submitted by the winning bidders were the same.

The Ombudsman said there was  collusion between the procuring entity and the bidders. Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol