Distribution of rice for Cebu City’s village workers late

THE distribution of the 6,575 bags of rice amounting to P8.2 million that serves as the City Government’s food subsidy to all the employees of the 80 barangays in Cebu City will be delayed.

During their regular session yesterday, the Cebu City Council passed Councilor Michael Ralota’s resolution reminding the Office of the Mayor of the distribution of the rice subsidy, and recognized the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) as the authorized distributor of the rice to all the barangay employees.

However, Ralota, who also heads the ABC, got the ire of Councilor Jose Daluz III for filing the resolution.

Daluz said it was ABC’s fault why the distribution of the rice subsidy will be delayed. It was supposed to be distributed last Christmas.

Daluz said it was the ABC who prepared and processed the purchase of the P8.2 million worth of rice at the National Food Authority.

Daluz pointed out it was not proper for Ralota to serve as one of the signatories of
the purchase request (PR).

“The fund for the purchase of rice is from the Office of the Mayor. The one who should sign the PR is a staff authorized by the mayor to sign the PR,” he said.

When the documents arrived at the Office of the Mayor, Daluz said that Mayor Michael Rama did not return the PR just so the transaction will be processed.

“To cure the defect, gibutangan na lang ug stamp signed by the mayor aron ma-process ang documents,” said Daluz.

Mistake

However, Daluz said ABC made another mistake for failing to prepare the check that will cover the purchase of rice.

Daluz said the P8.2-million was charged under the maintenance and other operating expenses under the P73.8-million third supplemental budget of the City in 2012.

Because of this, Daluz said Ralota then wrote a letter to Rama dated Dec. 27 returning the documents for the purchase of rice to the Office of the Mayor.

“Giuli nila kay di na man sila kabalo unsaon pagsulbad sa problema. Unya karon mag-remind remind sila (They returned the documents because they no longer know how to solve the problem. And now they are making the reminder),” he said.

To be able to distribute the rice, Daluz said, the mayor is looking for a source of funds.

Ralota said he returned the documents because there were differences in the amount that will be paid to NFA for the purchase of rice.

Despite his explanation, Daluz objected to the passage of Ralota’s resolution, saying it is unnecessary and uncalled for.

Because of this, the Council divided the house and 14 voted to have Ralota’s resolution passed and three voted against it, which included Daluz and Councilors Edgard Labella and Eduardo Rama Jr. who are all allies of Rama.