THE opposition councilors in Cebu City have questioned the intention and timing of the 25 separate resolutions allowing Mayor Tomas Osmeña to sign the deed of donation and acceptance of vehicles to some of his allied barangays.
During the deliberation on the approval of these resolutions on Tuesday, May 21, Councilor Jose Daluz III said he was surprised with the move to give vehicles to the barangays.
“Why are we donating these vehicles now to the barangays? This should have been done a long time ago,” he said.
Daluz and Councilor Pastor Alcover Jr. both said that the barangay vehicle donation is a program of incoming mayor Edgardo Labella.
“The mayor-elect already said this publicly. This is his program. For me, this is hijacking. All we need is courtesy for the next Council. This came as a surprise because it was you (Labella) who thought of this first,” Alcover said.
As of May 21, Vice Mayor Labella was presiding officer of the City Council. He will assume the mayorship at noon of June 30 yet.
Councilor Sisinio Andales, who sponsored the resolution, retorted, “Life is full of surprises.” Andales clarified that the first 25 barangays comprise the first batch of recipients of the donations from the City. The other barangays will be in the next batch.
To receive vehicles are Basak Pardo (two vehicles), Calamba (one), Guadalupe (four), Buhisan (one), Buot (three), Babag (one), Bulacao (one), Bonbon (one), Cogon Ramos (one), Carreta (one), Capitol Site (two), Kamputhaw (one), Busay (one), Binaliw (one), Banilad (two), Apas (two) and Agsungot (one); Barangays Day-as (one), Guba (one), Basak San Nicolas (one), Hipodromo (one), Lusaran (one), Kasambagan (three), Kalubihan (one) and Lahug (three).
Councilor Raymond Garcia said the gesture is good, but the present administration should equitably distribute the vehicles.
“It’s inequitable in the sense that there are no vehicles that are being donated to the barangays that are affiliated with (Barug PDP-Laban). I’m questioning this because out of the 25 barangays only one is affiliated with the opposition,” he said. (RVC)