Chiefs want P200M spent

AS THE ban on barangay infrastructure projects nears, village chiefs from the Cebu City north district asked city officials to immediately release P200 million in aid for barangay projects.

Some barangay captains are worried about their chances in the Oct. 25 elections, considering delays in the release of funds.

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While they understand the need to investigate alleged anomalies in some south district projects, three barangay captains from the north said it should not affect the release of their funds.

Cambinocot Barangay Captain Cesario Doncillo expressed concern that with the delay and the approaching election ban, they will no longer be able to implement their projects.

“Unsa na lang ikasulti sa among mga constituents, na wala mi nabuhat? Kadaghan ra ba namog kontra sa election, basin matinuod ng ilang mga pangdaot na wala mi gibuhat (What will our constituents say? We have so many challengers for the elections; the delays may prove their claims that we have done nothing),” Doncillo said.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has set the infrastructure ban to begin on Oct. 18. Starting that day, the construction or maintenance of provincial, city, municipal, or barangay-funded roads and bridges will be prohibited until the election period ends on Nov. 10.

According to Doncillo, his barangay stands to get at least P5.8 million in aid from the City Government.

Apas Barangay Captain Ramil Ayuman said he is hoping Mayor Michael Rama will decide immediately on the immediate release of the funds.

“Para bisan bidding masugdan na nato kay politically makatabang man sad ni namo (We hope to at least start the bidding. Politically, this will also help us),” he said.

In a phone interview with Sun.Star Cebu, Ayuman said he has been waiting for the release of P24 million for the construction of a drainage system and the road concreting in different areas in his barangay.

Ayuman said he visited City Hall last week to follow up on the release of funds but was told his request will not be granted, until the investigation of some projects in the south district is finished.

The 46 barangays in the north district will reportedly have to wait for another month or so before money for their projects will be released, following the alleged irregularity in the awarding of projects to E.M. Arante Construction.

Arante was awarded the contract for P156 million worth of projects in 16 barangays in the south district.

Fat Petronilo, Hipodromo barangay captain, said he also wants the funds immediately released so the implementation of barangay projects can start soon.

He, however, has expressed doubt that the project will be implemented before the election ban, citing the long bidding process.

Ayuman said it will be a waste if it will not be the incumbents who will implement the projects. “Sayang kung di kami ang maka-implement kay kami baya ang naninguha ani (We worked hard for these projects to be granted),” he said.

In a separate interview, Rama assured the funding for north district villages will be released immediately.

He, however, warned barangay officials to implement the barangay projects according to standards of the city’s engineering department and to follow bidding procedures.

Under the City Government’s seventh supplemental budget for 2009 and the third supplemental budget for 2010, up to P400 million in aid to the barangays was approved for appropriation.

Each barangay is supposed to get at least P3 million for road concreting.

Funds were also allocated for the construction, renovation and improvement of hospitals and health centers, as well as communal toilets, lined canals, sports complexes, day care centers, multi-purpose buildings, barangay buildings, drainage system, riprap, foot bridges, and road concreting, among others.

Asked why the funds for the south district were first released, City Treasurer Ofelia Oliva said the officials in the south were the first to immediately prepare their
program of works and estimates (POWE) for the barangay projects.

Oliva said she will be meeting today with Councilor Jose Daluz III, who chairs the council’s committee on budget and finance, as well as the financial officials of City Hall for the release of funds for the barangay projects in the north district.