DURING the administration of “has-been” Cebu City mayor Tomas Osmeña, he created the Barangay Mayor’s Office (BMO). It was put up in barangays whose barangay captains were not allied with the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK), Osmeña’s political party. It created conflict and animosities between duly-elected barangay captains.
The City Council then raised the issue regarding the creation of BMO. Its members asked the legal opinion of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) 7 on the matter. The DILG said the BMO did not exist and Osmeña only created the Barangay Disaster Control Center (BDCC) through an executive order.
Then DILG 7 director Rene Burdeos clarified that the creation of the BDCC was not in conflict with the functions, responsibilities and duties of the barangay since the former was the implementing arm of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CCDRRMO).
But the opposition then criticized Osmeña’s BMO because the focal persons sometimes usurped the functions of the barangay. They issued barangay clearances and certifications for their political allies who could not approach duly-elected barangay officials because of politics. During distributions of financial assistance for senior citizens and persons with disability (PWDs), BMO members were in the frontline.
Upon the assumption of Mayor Edgardo Labella last July, he issued a statement that he would not put up BMOs, saying it was illegal. Labella said he would no longer allow the operation of the BMO because it is not provided under the law.
“At the very outset, it is really our position that BMO is not provided under the Local Government Code. It is not in accordance with the existing law and rules. We just have to follow what is in the law,‘ Labella told Sunstar Cebu in a Facebook live interview. (SunStar Cebu, May 21, 2019 issue; “Labella to close mayor’s offices in barangays.”)
But what was it I heard that Labella was creating something like the BMO in all barangays? Is this the same dog with a different collar? I am reprinting, in toto, the mayor’s letter addressed to all barangay captains, dated Feb. 20, 2020.
“Greetings.
“It is with great enthusiasm that I am sharing with you my sincere intention to bring my office closer to the barangays by establishing the Mayor’s Information and Liaison Office (Milo) in all the 80 barangays of the City. Please be assured that our services will not overlap with your authority but rather, complement it to enhance the delivery of basic services.
“With this aim, may I request for support from your end to provide for a space (20-30 square meters) within the barangay as the office of Milo. It may be in the Barangay Hall or in any other barangay-owned building or structure. This way, we could achieve a better and a more convenient and effective coordination between the barangay and my office for the benefit of our constituents.
“Please inform my office or the Milo focal person in your barangay of the possible area you are recommending, should you take kindly and positively respond to this request. Thank you and more power.”
Questions: Will BOPK-allied barangay captains accommodate Milo focal persons to hold office inside their barangay halls? Will Milo representatives not usurp the barangay captains’ functions? I can foresee a conflict between the Milo focal person and BOPK-allied barangay captains like what happened between barangay captains allied to Michael Rama and Labella and the BMO. Ingna ko’g bakakon.