Barangay execs seek ABC help on cash aid

Officials of seven Cebu City barangays sought the intervention of the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) to facilitate the release of their share of last year’s financial assistance from City Hall.

“Ambot ug naa pa ba kaha na (We don’t know if it is still there),” Tejero barangay captain Jesselou Cadungog told the ABC during their second quarter meeting yesterday morning.

ABC president Michael Ralota said the delay could be due to the failure of the barangays concerned to liquidate their cash assistance in 2011.

But Cadungog thinks otherwise, saying the motive may be political.

The barangay captains of the seven barangays are allied with the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK) group of former south district congressman Tomas Osmeña.

Barangay Tejero is expected to receive an assistance of P5.4 million from the city which Cadungog intended for the purchase of equipment for their disaster mitigation program.

The other barangays who have yet to receive their financial assistance are Hipodromo (P5.2 million), Calamba (P5.4 million), Kamagayan (P3.5 million), Toong (P3.7 million), Parian (P3.5 million), and Labangon (P8.7 million).

Ralota said he would convene the ABC board of directors to an emergency meeting tomorrow to pass a resolution asking the City Council to invite Acting City Treasurer Emma Villarete to explain the delay in the release of financial aid.

He said the re-issuance of a new check will take time and may be overtaken by the barangay election scheduled in October.

Hipodromo barangay captain Petronilo Fat said he already inquired from the City Treasurer’s Office on the release of their check but was told to wait for the July 19 schedule for the release of these checks.

Calamba barangay captain Victor Quijano said he is also waiting for the July 19 schedule to already receive the P17 million check for his barangay.

Mayor Michael Rama earlier said he wanted to first meet with the seven barangay captains to personally speak with them before he will have their checks released.

Ralota said a meeting with the mayor was unnecessary. In the case of barangay T. Padilla he only asked his barangay treasurer to collect their check of P4.9 million from the city.