City to give P5M each to all 80 brgys
The Cebu City Government will give P5 million financial assistance to all the 80 barangays that they can use to purchase garbage trucks and other vehicles needed in their day-to-day operations.
City Legal
Officer Rey
Gealon said their office has rendered a favorable legal opinion to extend such financial assistance to the barangays in the city.
"Upon the instruction of the mayor, the City
Legal Office has to facilitate the expeditious release of the P5 million financial assistance to all 80 barangays regardless of the political affiliations of the respective barangay's leadership," said Gealon.
In August, Mayor Edgardo Labella has announced that all 80 barangays in the city, allied or not allied with his administration, will receive P5 million each as financial assistance for garbage collection and other programs.
In a meeting with barangay captains, Labella said the city has allocated at least P400 million in the Annual Budget for 2019 for the financial assistance to the barangays.
Labella said the barangays should liquidate the assistance from the city in the previous years.
Meanwhile, Liga ng mga Barangay Administrative Officer Fritz Nacua Sabella has requested the CLO to conduct a contract review on the draft Memorandum of Agreement between the city, represented by Labella, and Barangay San Jose, represented by Barangay Captain Joventino Ardaba, for the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the disbursement of the P5 million financial assistance pursuant to Ordinance 2518 or Annual Budget of the City of Cebu for Calendar Year 2019.
"Barangay San Jose intends to use the financial assistance to fund their projects for the purchase of garbage dump truck and two units of barangay service vehicles," read the contract review.
Gealon said after a careful review and examinations on the provisions of the said MOA, the CLO finds the same to be in order and compliant with the basic legal requirements of a written contract.
"Its provisions are in accordance with law, rules and regulations, and are not contrary to morals, good customs, public order, and public policy," said Gealon.
However, in compliance with the local government code of 1991, a Sangguniang Panlungsod Resolution authorizing the City Mayor to sign the subject MOA should be secured and a Sangguniang Barangay Resolution authorizing the Punong Barangay to sign the MOA is also necessary.
"This Office finds no legal impediment for the Honorable City Mayor to sign the MOA after due authorization by the Sangguniang Panlungsod," read the contract review.
Labella said he will consider giving another P5 million aid to barangays next year for as long as the barangays will assist the city in rehabilitating the waterways and in collecting garbage, among others.