4 brgys told to explain failure to submit report

At least four Cebu City barangays allied with Mayor Tomas Osmeña were ordered to submit written explanation in two days why their tanods failed to submit their weekly accomplishment reports for September.

In a memorandum dated October 19, Osmeña directed Barangay Captains Gremar Barete of Buhisan; Manny Pepito of Mabini; Manuel Guanzon of Capitol Site, and Jerome Puerto of Day-as to explain why their tanods did not submit the accomplishment reports on the second, third and fourth weeks of September.

“Non-compliance of this directive shall be dealt (with) accordingly. For strict compliance,” the memorandum reads.

Last February, Osmeña directed all barangay tanods to submit a weekly accomplishment report to Cebu City Anti-Drug Abuse Council co-chairman Garry Lao, who also heads the Cebu City Office of the Substance Abuse Prevention, as part of the requirements in the release of their P5,000 financial assistance from the city government.

Lao earlier explained that if a certain barangay fails to comply with the order, an explanation should be submitted prior to the suspension of the allowance.

As of press time, COSAP office has not yet received any response from these four barangays.

Meanwhile, the city government has restored the allowances of barangay tanods from Sapangdaku. This was after the mayor found that their reason for not submitting a report for September was valid.

Lao said the Sapangdaku tanods were not able to submit the report on time because of the recent landslide that hit their community.

The tanods were busy helping the personnel of the Visayan Electric Company in fixing the posts which were damaged during the landslide.

“Our tanod encountered difficulty in making their new accomplishment report. Secondly, they assisted in (a) disaster alarm like landslide that happened in different sitios and fallen posts of VECO and PLDT at Sitio Lupa,” the Sapangdaku explanation letter reads.

Lao said they also asked explanation from Barangays Sambag I and Lusaran but they did not get any response from the barangay officials. With this, the monthly allowance of their tanods is still suspended.

Lao said Barangays Paril, Poblacion Pardo and Mambaling also failed to submit their accomplishment reports since August.

These barangays, however, had sent their explanation to the Office of the Mayor. Lao still has to get a feedback from the mayor.

“It sends a message to all of us nga you just submit your weekly report, comply lang, wala tay problema ana,” Lao further said.