ZAFRA
THE Cebu City Council raised issues regarding the creation of Barangay Mayor’s Office (BMO) by Mayor Tomas Osmeña.
The Department of Interior and Local Government in Central Visayas (DILG-7), however, when asked about their legal opinion on the matter, said in their reply to the council that the BMO does not exist and Mayor Osmeña only created the Barangay Disaster Control Center (BDCC) through an executive order (EO).
In their legal opinion sent to the council last October 26, DILG-7 Regional director Rene Burdeos clarified that the creation of BDCC is not in conflict with the functions, responsibilities and duties of the barangay, since the former is the implementing arm of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CCDRRMO).
“The function of (BDCC), more than being the extension office of City Hall, includes only the dissemination of information, provision of assistance and service, coordination with other government agencies, supervision and coordination of activities, all pertaining to and in times of calamity,”
Burdeos said. He added that the functions stated are within the scope of concern of the city government as well as of the barangay, as being part of the jurisdiction of the city.
And as to whether or not the creation of BDCC usurped the duties and functions of barangay officials concerned, Burdeos said the matter should be resolved in a proper forum upon presentation of evidence.
“On the issues that the creation of BDCC created confusion among the people, it should be clear that the services of the barangay are separate and distinct from that of the city, primarily because of the source of its funds and the extent of its area of coverage,” Burdeos said.
He further stated that as being the implementing arm of the CCDRRMO, BDCC should not be involved or perceived to be involved on matters of pure barangay concern.
However, Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) president and Tisa barangay captain Philip Zafra told Cebu Daily News that the executive department just changed the name BMO to BDCC, which is still functioning beyond the scope of the office of disaster.
“Nag-ilis og pangan pero pareho gihapon na. Apil gihapon sila og distribute sa mga tambal, nganong manaod pud sila og suga. Ingon ana ba (They changed the name but it is still the same. They also distributed medicines, installed lights. Something like that),” Zafra said.
Last July, the Council has put on hold the decision to approve Osmena’s EO creating the Long Life Medical Assistance Program and its implementing arm, the BMO.
Zafra said that it was until recently, around October that BMO was changed to BDCC.
He admitted that he still have reservations on the legal opinion of DILG. He said the DILG should dig deeper on the issue.
He said he just received the legal opinion of DILG this week and he already submitted it to the ABC for recommendation for their next step.