News Briefs

P14.1M aid released

A TOTAL of P14.1 million worth of financial assistance from the Legislative Assistance Fund (LAF) of the Provincial Board (PB) Members and Vice Governor was distributed yesterday at the Capitol’s social hall to Cebu province barangay officials.

LAFs of PB members are like pork barrels of senators and congressmen, which are used as financial assistance to their constituents in the barangays.

Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia led the giving of assistance together with Rep. Pablo John Garcia (Cebu 3rd district), Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale and Provincial Board Members.

Representative Garcia said he was there to distribute his own checks and meet the barangay captains.

Magpale, for her part, said that she had 58 checks  were released from her LAF.

The release of the assistance was done at the Capitol after Governor Garcia said she would stop the habit of forwarding checks to the treasurer’s office but would want the city, town or barangay officials to claim it at the Capitol. /Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus

Oliva stays

OFELIA Oliva continues to occupy the City Treasurer’s post of Cebu City despite the lapse of the 20-day Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) issued by the court.

The TRO was to prevent Finance Cesar Purisima to replace Oliva as City Treasurer with Assistant City Treasurer Emma Villarete.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said he was coordinating with City Hall lawyers to discuss what steps to take to retain Oliva’s services in the city.

He said that even if his petition for injunction is denied, he is always left with other options to explore.

“We are still studying the internal rules of DOF.  Ngano man lagi ang atong mga police directors pwede man ma extend.  Unya ang city treasurer dili pwede?”

Oliva still occupies the CTO.  But she was not at her office yesterday.  One of her office staffs said that Oliva was in an out of town seminar and may be back today. /Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac