Council debates on courtesy issue

The Cebu City Council has requested the Office of the Mayor to extend courtesy to the officials of Barangay Lahug by coordinating the conduct of trainings for Barangay Health Workers in the area.

Concerns on courtesy to barangay officials were raised before the City Council after a resolution was approved authorizing Mayor Michael Rama to enter into a memorandum of agreement with the Perpetual Succour Hospital for the training of BHWs and conduct of community health activities in Lahug without consulting the concerned barangay officials.

The basic courtesy of involving the barangay officials in drafting the MOA was allegedly overlooked prompting Councilor Nestor Archival to initiate the corrective measure of requesting the mayor’s office to coordinate with the barangay officials before implementing the program.

Archival took the cue from the privilege speech of Councilor Mary Ann de los Santos wherein the latter called out the City Health Department for conducting a vaccination activity in Lahug without the knowledge of the barangay officials.

Archival found out from delos Santos that the MOA between the city government and Perpetual Succour Hospital also did not pass through the officials of Lahug.

“So I called up the barangay captain if she has knowledge about this one, unfortunately she said, she doesn’t have any knowledge about this,” de los Santos told his colleagues in the council.

Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera said the Perpetual Succor Hospital chose Lahug as beneficiary for the program because of its proximity to the hospital.

She assured though that the BHWs in

Lahug are aware of the partnership. But Archival stressed that there should be a line of “respect” for the barangay officials rather than going directly to the city government.

But Pesquera said the health centers are under the city government, particularly the CHD. She added that although some barangay health centers are located in the barangay halls, in terms of operations and programs, it doesn’t have to get approval first from the barangay officials.

“This is something that should be corrected. Nganong di man nato respetahan ang barangay and take note that (it is) the barangay who knows everything sa mga barangay, nya nganong di man nato sila respetahan? What’s the reason?” said Archival.

Councilor Philip Zafra suggested if they could ask the Office of the City Mayor to coordinate with Barangay Lahug first before the implementation of the program.

Councilor Franklyn Ong, president of the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) and ex-officio member of the city council, said that there is a thin line between the services provided by the barangay and the city health.

“I think some issues have to be sorted out, I have already brought this up to the office of the mayor, and I hope and pray that this concern, not only this one, but the rest will be settled,” said Ong.

Pesquera explained that it has already been indicated in the MOA that there is an involvement of the barangay. She added, the program will be beneficial to the BHWs since there will be training that will be provided.

Archival, however, emphasized that the barangay should be involved before any project is being signed.

“In the MOA it is very indicated that it is the barangay that will provide venue if there will be activities, it is not the city that will be giving the venue, it is the barangay,” said Pesquera.

She added that the barangay is also among the signee of the MOA alongside the city mayor who will be signing on behalf of the city. But Archival said that a MOA should not have been drafted without informing the barangay first.

Pesquera assured that the program will not be implemented without the consent of the barangay officials. –