DSWD STOPS DISTRIBUTION OF CASH AID IN CEBU CITY

Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella believed that the timing of the distribution was suspect, saying that it was illegal because it was a form of campaigning Labella says he sought the help of Presidential Adviser for the Visayas Michael Dino, who reportedly informed the DSWD acting secretary about the matter

Thousands of Cebu City families will not get their P10,000 cash assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) after Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella complained about the timing of its distribution.

In a speech during a meeting at the residence of former congressman Antonio Cuenco, Labella said that Mayor Tomas Osmeña was supposed to distribute money last week.

Labella said that last April 17, he was informed that their opponents in next month’s elections who have been heading the Barangay Mayor’s Office (BMO) were preparing food for DSWD and city officials who would be distributing the cash assistance the next day.

The vice mayor said that a few families already received the cash.

Labella said he sought the help of Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Dino.

“I told Dino that the distribution is illegal because it is a sort of campaigning to the 60,000 beneficiaries who will receive P10,000 for each family,” he said.

He said that Dino informed Acting DSWD Secretary Emmanuel Leyco about the matter.

“Please stop it because it will jeopardize our group in the barangays as this is a machination of the Liberal Party-BOPK in Cebu City,” Labella quoted their text message to Leyco.

Labella said the DSWD secretary texted Dino back, telling the latter that there would be no distribution because he put a stop to it.

The vice mayor said that if the BMOs have the mayor’s support, they in Barug Team Rama/ PDP-Laban-Panaghiusa have the presidential assistant and the President.