Capitol gives P50T to each brgy. chief of Compostela

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

THE Municipality of Compostela has been operating since the middle of 2010 without a mayor and other officials, prompting Gov. Gwen Garcia to directly give assistance to the town’s 17 barangays yesterday.

Garcia met with the barangay officials and gave each of them P50,000. She also gave P200,000 for the improvement of their barangay halls, P50,000 for their socio-cultural projects, and P100,000 for their health and day care centers.

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Garcia said it is the first time in Cebu’s history that a town has no municipal council to pass the budget and a mayor to implement it.

Joel Quiño reportedly won by a margin of more than 2,000 votes against Ritchie Wagas in 2010. But the Commission on Elections (Comelec) annulled his proclamation after Wagas filed a protest claiming irregularities in the election.

Quiño and other winning candidates, since then, were prevented from assuming their posts, leaving the town without a mayor, vice mayor and councilors.

Garcia met yesterday with Compostela’s 17 barangay captains at the Capitol and listened to their problems on damaged roads, health, social welfare, salaries and benefits of barangay workers.

She directed the provincial engineer to repair the roads damaged by water. She also directed the provincial director and the town police to clear the roads of container vans.

She told Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) Chief Cristina Giango and Provincial Welfare Officer Marivic Garces to schedule a simultaneous medical and social welfare activities there on Feb. 1.

On Feb 1, Capitol will also turn over bags of cement to the barangays. Muticabs will also be given to eight barangays that don’t have multi-cabs yet.

Honoraria

In yesterday’s meeting, the barangay captains said they have not yet claimed their honoraria. Giango advised them to submit the required documents so they can claim their money.

Garcia also asked Dr. Necias Vicoy Jr. to organize and assist the farmers in having their crops and livestock insured with the National Crop Insurance Corp. for protection against calamities.

In an interview, Cleofe Gonzaga, in-charge of the Compostela treasurer’s office, told Sun.Star Cebu that the tax collection in the town continues, though the town’s spending is limited.

She said they can only spend for recurring expenses like salary, maintenance and other operating expenses like lights, water, fuel and expenses for basic services.

They cannot spend for capital outlay, like projects, equipment and items that involves huge amount.

She said the town continues to receive their P4-million monthly Internal Revenue Allotment from the National Government, but the fund remains in their coffers.

Compostela has 39,167 residents, based on the 2007 census, and has an area of 53.90 square kilometers.

The town is operating on its 2009 re-enacted P64-million annual budget, so employees receive their salary at that year’s rates.

Garcia directed provincial engineer Eulogio Pelayre to repair damaged roads. Pelayre is now assessing the damage there.

Pelayre said a loader and a dump truck have been stationed in the town since typhoon Sendong.

Garcia said she has to express her gratitude to the town residents for the votes she got in the town in the last elections. Of the 27,000 voters in Compostela, she got 18,000 votes.

The barangay captains gave the governor a copy of a resolution expressing their appreciation.

Guimbal-Dapdap Barangay Captain Reynaldo Tanjay showed Garcia some pictures of a damaged provincial road in his barangay. Tanjay said heavy rains also resulted in a landslide in his barangay.

During her last visit to Compostela, Garcia promised to repair a provincial road in Barangay Mulao.

The road had been asphalted but some areas were damaged by the recent floods.