THE distribution of financial assistance for the victims of Typhoon Odette (Rai) in Lapu-Lapu City is fast approaching, but the issue on the gathering of data and verification process for the names of the victims has not been settled yet.

Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan alleged that some barangay captains in the city are not cooperating in gathering information from indigent typhoon victims who will receive the P5,000 financial assistance from the city.

Mayor Chan said he had sent a letter to the barangay officials asking them to explain in formal writing the reason of their unwillingness to help the city government.

“Upon learning that they did not do their jobs, we sent them a letter, meaning they waived their rights to do the verification,” the mayor said.

Lapu-Lapu City’s Liga ng mga Barangay President and Bankal Barangay Captain Eduardo Cuizon, however, said barangay officials already completed their survey and verification on Dec. 23, 2021.

Chan did not disclose the names of the barangay captains that were uncooperative but according to Cuizon, there are 18 of them who belong to the opposition bloc.

Cuizon said the data gathered by the barangays were submitted to the City Social Welfare and Development Office and became the basis for the City Council to approve the P302 million budget for the cash aid.

Cuizon said they are only avoiding complaints from people since they had gathered the needed information a few days after Typhoon Odette made landfall in Cebu on Dec. 16, 2021.

“People will question why we keep doing surveys and yet the aid is not there yet,” Cuizon said.

Cuizon also alleged that staff members from the Barangay Mayor’s Office have been politicizing the listing and verification process.

“There was not a single house they visited that they wouldn’t say ‘we are for Mayor Ahong, since this is the effort of the mayor,’” said Cuizon.

Chan is planning to start the distribution of the financial aid on Jan. 15 or 16, 2022.