A TOTAL of 29 of the 80 barangays in Cebu City received P1 million in financial assistance from the City Government on Monday, July 13, 2020.
This was the second time the City provided cash aid to barangay captains since the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic began.
Mayor Edgardo Labella led the distribution of the checks, which took place at the City Hall.
The first batch of recipients were Barangays Sapangdaku, Talamban, San Nicolas Proper, Kamputhaw, Apas, Punta Princesa, San Antonio, Sambag 1, Mabini, Agsungot, Tejero, Hipodromo, Bonbon, Carreta, Pit-os, Sirao, Sinsin, Lahug, Pulangbato, Mambaling, Luz, Lorega San Miguel, Duljo Fatima, Cogon Pardo, Quiot, Bacayan, Taptap, Pung-ol Sibugay and Ermita.
The City also prepared checks for Busay, Labangon, Sudlon 2, Binaliw, Pahina Central, Kinasang-an, Kasambagan, Pamutan, Basak San Nicolas and Sudlon 1, but representatives of these barangays were not present.
The barangay captains who were present at the activity said they would use the funds to augment their current resources, especially those dedicated to their Covid-19 response.
When the City first provided financial assistance to the barangays in April, it was up to barangay captains how to spend the funds, provided they spent 80 percent of it on food supplies and the rest on fuel, personal protective equipment (PPE) and other mitigating measures to combat Covid-19.
The barangay captains also had to secure receipts on where the money was spent as required by the Commission on Audit.
However, some barangays received P1 million, while others received P2 million or and P3 million, depending on their current population.
San Nicolas Proper Barangay Captain Clifford Niñal said one of his priorities is to buy new stocks of rice for his constituents and to acquire an oxygen tank that the barangay can use while transferring a Covid-19 patient to a hospital.
Agsungot Barangay Captain Peter Dumaolao said he also plans to use the P1 million to buy more rice for his constituents.
Daido Abcede Jr., barangay captain of San Antonio, said aside from rice, he plans to use the cash aid to buy PPE for his constituents and personnel. (PAC, JKV)