Friday, April 18, 2008
Tomas willing to quit so NGO funds continue
MANILA – If only to ensure funding for nongovernment organizations (NGOs) that help make Cebu a livable city, Mayor Tomas Osmeña is willing to resign as chief executive.
But because there is still much work to be done on the South Road Properties (SRP), Osmeña said he will finish his term and continue releasing funds to the NGOs despite the Commission on Audit’s (COA) memorandum.
What he will do, he said, is to continue processing and granting requests for financial aid to the NGOs that have been helping the City.
But he will inform COA of all the disbursements made and explain in writing why the City cannot suspend funding for projects that have long been planned.
“We can’t suspend their programs...I will sign and release vouchers for their funding but I will have to inform COA that we can’t disrupt the activities. I will just have to take responsibility for this,” he said, realizing that he can get a disallowance from COA for his decision.
Incorporator
COA recently issued a memo prohibiting any local government unit from extending financial aid to any NGO whose incorporator, director, organizer and officer is related to any local official involved in the processing, approving, disbursement and release of government funds.
“If it weren’t for the SRP, I would resign just so all these NGOs with my relatives can get the funds they need. There’s two years left in my term, I hope to accelerate it but I can’t. But I’m really worried about stopping all their funding because all these people have something to show,” Osmeña said in an interview yesterday. (LCR)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (April 18, 2008 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here. |
