Sue or allowances stay stuck: ABC
ASSOCIATION of Barangay Councils (ABC) Cebu City Chapter president Franklyn Ong has encouraged barangay captains whose barangays were included in the list of those that have yet to return or liquidate their financial assistance that was disallowed in 2016 to file cases against the previous officials.
During ABC’s third quarter general assembly yesterday, Ong told the barangay captains that they will not receive financial assistance from the City Government unless the aid that was distributed in the previous year will be accounted for.
“They have to file a case. That is the advice from the Commission on Audit (COA), so that they can move on. If they will not file it, the disallowance will continue,” he said.
In 2017, COA disallowed the disbursements made by the City Government from the P800-million aid to the barangays in 2016.
In a notice of disallowance, State Auditor IV and Audit Team Leader Daisy Bercede said the disbursements of the aid to the barangays shouldn’t have been permitted because the list and estimated cost of the projects were not authorized by the City Council.
As for those barangay captains who were also in office when the disallowance was made, Ong said they need to find all the required documents to liquidate the money if they were able to spend it on their programs and projects.
So far, only 16 barangays returned the financial assistance to the City.
Of the 16, eight barangays asked for another financial assistance and submitted their proposals to the City, which were approved under the first and second supplemental budgets this year.
The barangays that have returned their financial assistance are Banilad (P8 million), Buhisan (P8 million), Busay (P1.02 million), Capitol Site (P8 million), Cogon Ramos (P8 million), Kalubihan (P8 million), Kasambagan (P2.2 million), Kinasang-an (P8 million), Luz (P2.5 million), Mabini (P62,578), Mabolo (P8.2 million), Mambaling (10 million), Pahina Central (P8 million) Sto. Niño (P8 million), Talamban (P10 million) and Tejero (P8 million). (RVC)