Councilors raise transparency issue in rice distribution

The Cebu City Council wants the executive department to provide the legislative body with a list of habal-habal (motorcycle-for-hire) drivers who received the P15 million worth of rice assistance from the City Government.

The council is also requesting the Office of the Mayor to give them a copy of the guidelines in identifying the beneficiaries of the rice assistance.

In a privilege speech, Councilor Pastor Alcover Jr. said there is a need for transparency in all transactions of the City.

“Transparency is one of the basic duties of the government towards its people. Transparency does not erase doubts coming from the people, but it lessens that doubt. As a matter of public opinion, the government is always presumed to be guilty of corruption. That is why transparency is always an imperative in good governance,” Alcover said.

During the discussion, Councilor Sisinio Andales objected to Alcover’s presumption that the government was engaged in corruption.

But Councilor Raymond Garcia clarified that Alcover did not mean to presume that the government was corrupt.

Last Saturday, Feb. 23, the Office of the Mayor distributed one sack of rice to each qualified habal-habal driver.

To qualify for the rice assistance, Assistant City Administrator Annabeth Cuizon, in an earlier interview, said drivers are required to submit certain requirements.

It includes a profile sheet, voter’s registration, any proof of possession of the motorcycle, certificate of indigency and a certification that he or she is a member of any habal-habal association.

The requirements should be submitted to the Two-Wheeled Motor Vehicle Monitoring, Coordinating and Assistance Unit (TMVMCAU) office on the ninth floor of the City Hall executive building.

Those who were able to comply with the requirements were given a certificate that they had to present when they claimed their rice assistance along with a valid government-issued identification card.