THE incoming city administration under Mayor-elect Thadeo “Jonkie” Ouano has raised questions regarding the proposed donation of vehicles to 15 Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairpersons. The Ouano camp points out that while the vehicles were turned over for use last year, the formal move to donate them is only being pursued now, weeks before a new administration takes office.
Incoming city administrator Sally Malig-on, in a press conference on Sunday, May 25, 2025, questioned the propriety and timing of the donation, stressing that the vehicles are still officially City-owned.
Malig-on expressed surprise that the proposed deed of donation was included in the agenda of the City Council’s session on Monday, May 26. He questioned why the vehicles were turned over last year for use if the real intention was to donate them.
“Why is the donation only being proposed now?” he asked.
The 15 SK chairmen are from Barangays Paknaan, Labogon, Looc, Maguikay, Casuntingan, Subangdaku, Basak, Casili, Banilad, Bakilid, Tingub, Cubacub, Cabancalan, Canduman and Tawason. Malig-on believes these 15 SK chairmen are allied with the current administration.
The deed of donation remains pending before the City Council and is currently under review by its committee on laws.
“These vehicles were already turned over to the SK chairpersons as early as November 2024 for their daily use, but we were surprised to learn that only now, nearing the end of the current administration, is the donation being processed. If the intention was to donate them, why only now?” Malig-on reiterated.
He said this action gives the impression of a last-minute move that could restrict the discretion of the incoming administration in deciding how to best utilize City assets.
“We believe it would be more appropriate to let the new administration decide where these vehicles are most needed. There may be other City offices that urgently require transportation. These are resources of the City, not of any individual official,” he added.
In addition to the timing, Malig-on questioned whether SK chairmen are equipped to manage the vehicles. He pointed out that under current laws, SK funds cannot be used to hire drivers or pay for personal services, raising concerns about how the vehicles will be operated and maintained.
“For the past months, the City Government has been covering the cost of fuel and maintenance, but once the donation is finalized, those responsibilities shift. We have to ask: does the SK have the capacity and the budget for that?” he said.
He warned that finalizing the deed would transfer ownership of the vehicles to the SK chairmen, removing them from the City’s direct control. “That limits the City’s ability to recall or reassign the vehicles if needed,” Malig-on stated.
He appealed to the current officials to consider deferring the decision. With due respect to the outgoing administration, he urged them to study the proposed donation carefully, emphasizing that it is not just a simple handover but a matter involving assets that belong to the entire City, and their disposition should be guided by what best serves the broader public interest.
Councilor Joel Seno, an ally of Mayor-elect Ouano, also questioned the timing of the proposed donation. He said the move raises suspicions and gives the impression that it is meant to preempt the incoming administration from making decisions on how the assets should be used. He echoed the concern that the SK lacks the operational capacity to maintain the vehicles.
“They cannot legally hire drivers, and SK funds are not meant for these kinds of recurring expenses,” Seno said.
The City Council has yet to reach a final decision on the donation. The matter remains with the committee on laws, which is expected to issue a recommendation soon.
Malig-on said the incoming administration is committed to ensuring transparency and proper stewardship of public assets, and that decisions on City property should be made with full accountability and in accordance with the law.
SunStar Cebu tried to reach out to SK Federation president Fleuritz Gayle Jumao-as and outgoing City Administrator Jamaal James Calipayan for comment on the matter, but to no avail as of press time. / CAV