16 VILLAGES RETURN CH’S FINANCIAL AID

7 of these villages are asking for another cash assistance equivalent to the same amount that they returned. They want to use the money to purchase lots for school buildings, garbage trucks, and repair barangay roads. City Council’s committee on budget

A total of 16 barangays in Cebu City returned the financial assistance that the City Government distributed in 2015 that the Commission on Audit (COA) disallowed.

Of the 16, seven barangays asked for another financial assistance and submitted their proposals to the City, which were discussed during the budget hearing for the executive department’s proposed P469-million first supplemental budget (SB 1) this year.

The barangays that have returned their financial assistance are Banilad (P8 million), Buhisan (P8 million), Busay (P1.02 million), Capitol Site (P8 million), Cogon Ramos (P8 million), Kalubihan (P8 million), Kasambagan (P2.2 million), Kinasang-an (P8 million), Luz (P2.5 million), Mabini (P62,578), Mabolo (P8.2 million), Mambaling (10 million), Pahina Central (8 million) Sto. Niño (P8 million), Talamban (P10 million) and Tejero (8 million).

Of these, Barangays Buhisan, Capitol Site, Cogon Ramos, Kinasang-an, Pahina Central, Talamban and Tejero asked the City for another aid, the amount of which is equivalent to what they had returned.

Under their proposal, Capitol Site wants to purchase a lot worth P5.3 million for their school building, as well as garbage trucks, and rehabilitate roads worth P2.6 million.

Barangay Pahina Central wants to purchase security cameras worth P3 million, purchase a garbage truck and implement road repairs with drainage worth P5 million.

In an interview, Councilor Margarita Osmeña, who chairs the committee on budget and finance, said other barangays that returned their financial assistance may avail of another aid.

“Should the other barangays that returned but did not submit a proposal decid to submit a proposal, we can even have another supplemental budget just for them because the source of funds will be what they returned,” she said.

Earlier, Mayor Tomas Osmeña filed administrative and criminal charges against 59 barangay captains for their failure to liquidate the financial assistance that the City gave to them three years ago.