A MEMBER of the Municipal Council of Toboso is questioning the non-release of the Municipal Government of rice assistance worth P11 million relative to the effect of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
Municipal Council member Madelene Dela Torre, in a privilege speech during their regular session Tuesday, July 7, said hat Toboso Mayor Richard Jaojoco has been posting in his social media account the schedule of the release of rice assistance of 20 kilos of rice and 10 sardines for every household on June 11, 12, 13 and 30 kilos of rice and sardines on July 1, 2 and 3.
"I am questioning this not for my own personal gains but in response to the clamors of the people because up to now no distribution was made and the rice are still stocked at the municipal gym," Dela Torre said.
She also bared that it is to the knowledge of everyone in the town that some sacks of rice are already damaged by rains.
Dela Torre said the P11-million fund that was used to procure rice represents the one month Internal Revenue Allotment of Toboso released by the Department of Budget as part of the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act relative to the threat of Covid-19.
She pointed out that they expected the distribution of rice assistance before the Bayanihan Act 1 expired on June 25.
In a related development, Municipal Council member Peewee Estrada also revealed about the alleged misuse of the municipal ambulance per order of the town's chief executive.
The ambulance driven by Glen Bustillo met an accident on June 30 in Barangay Pinapugasan, Calatrava on his way back to Toboso from Barangay Paghumayan also in Calatrava.
He was immediately dismissed from service despite that he has been a job employee of the town for nine years.
Bustillo said the Municipal Government made it appear that he was not the driver of the ambulance when it met an accident to cover up its misuse.
He said the ambulance actually brought home a drunken former barangay official and an incumbent barangay captain who are allies of the present administration.