Council asks Osmeña: Abolish BMOs
The Cebu City Council has requested Mayor Tomas Osmeña to shut down all Barangay Mayor's Office (BMO) that is performing the same function as the barangay.
In a vote of 8-7 with one abstention, the council approved the resolution sponsored by Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia, who said the continued operation of the BMOs is a waste of taxpayers' money as it currently undertakes “duplicitous function” causing confusion to the residents.
“Several reports of abuses committed by persons using the name of the BMO and the seal of the city have been reported,” reads a portion of the resolution.
Garcia was supported by Councilors Jose Daluz III, Joel Garganera, Renato Osmeña, Phillip Zafra, Pastor Alcover, Eduardo Rama, and Jocelyn Pesquera.
On the other hand, Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan-allied councilors voted against the passage of the resolution. They are Eugenio Gabuya, Sisinio Andales, Margarita Osmeña, Joy Augustus Young, Jerry Guardo, Alvin Arcilla, and Mary Ann de los Santos. They claimed that the BMOs are doing a good job.
Councilor David Tumulak abstained from voting, saying Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella will be voting in favor of Barug Team Rama to break the tie anyway.
Garcia said the Department of the Interior and Local Government had already issued an opinion declaring that these BMOs do not exist. What is operating in the barangays is the Barangay Disaster Control Center.
He said there are barangays in the city whose captains are allied with the mayor, like Mabolo and Tejero, that do not have BMOs but are working well.
Arcilla admitted that the current administration is establishing these BMOs as “political strategy.” These BMOs are reportedly the ones distributing the free medicines to the beneficiaries of the Long Life Medical Program.
Mayor Osmeña said he will continue the operation of these BMOs since it is helping the urban poor of the city to get free medicines.
“The barangay mayors office, whatever they call, we are distributing medicines. That's what they are afraid of. That's what they are afraid of because the people get direct service from the government and they cannot do that,” he said.
Osmeña said there are already 45,000 beneficiaries of the free medicines given to them every day. He said the city government is still adjusting to the birth pains of the new program.
“Of course we will continue and we are tightening up and this gives them a headache because this is the best service that the urban poor is getting, nowhere in the Philippines and they want to cancel it? No way,” he added.
The mayor said he is already asking all barangay officials to validate all beneficiaries of the program since there are reports that some of the listed beneficiaries are not getting their medicines.