BO-PK allied brgys finally receive aid

EIGHT barangays identified with the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK) bloc received their share of last year’s financial assistance from the Cebu City government after several months.

Tejero barangay councilor Garry Lao said their barangay treasurer already collected their P5.4 million assistance from the city treasurer’s office yesterday afternoon.

On Mayor Michael Rama’s instructions, former councilor Jose Daluz III accompanied officials from the eight barangays to the CTO to collect the checks that replaced those issued back in January.

While the city government completed the distribution of the 2012 assistance to its 80 barangays, Rama still has no idea when he could release the 2013 assistance to these barangays worth P6.6 million each.

“Let’s not rush it,” was Rama’s reply when asked about the P6.6 million assistance during his noon time press conference.

An appropriation of P528 million was placed in the 2013 budget as Social Development Fund as assistance to the barangays.

The barangay captains of Tejero, Calamba, Hipodromo, Kamagayan, Kinasang-an, Labangon, Pari-an and Toong attended last Wednesday’s City Council session to seek their assistance in facilitating the release of their 2012 assistance.

Tejero barangay captain Jesselou Cadungog told the council that they were given the run-around and Mayor Rama didn’t respond to the three letters she sent to him this year asking about their assistance.

Councilor Mary Ann dels Santos, Rama’s ally in the council, told Cadungog that being a former barangay captain herself she understood their plight.

“I did not also get financial assistance from former mayor Tomas Osmeña,” said delos Santos who used to be with the Kugi Uswag Sugbu (Kusug) group of former mayor Alvin Garcia.

Delos Santos asked the eight barangay captains to instead speak directly with Rama about their concerns.

Councilor Michael Ralota, who also heads the Association of Barangay Councils, said he and the eight barangay captains dropped by the mayor’s office last Wednesday morning but Rama was unavailable. Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac