Barangay officials receive their cash incentives at the Waterfront Hotel in Lahug in this April 2016 file photo.
After police personnel and officers, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña confirmed the termination of financial aid to the barangay officials yesterday.
But Osmeña clarified that the termination of cash aid applies only to those allied with former Cebu City mayor Michael Rama and not to barangay officials allied with the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK).
“Effective immediately, unless given written permission by the mayor, all financial assistance from the city government to the barangays is terminated,” Osmeña said in yesterday’s press conference.
Of the 80 barangays in the city, Barangays Kalubihan, Banilad, Capitol, Cogon-Ramos, Day-as, Kasambagan, Mabolo, Tejero, Labangon, Pahina Central, Talamban, Guadalupe, Kinasang-an and Buhisan were loyal to BO-PK.
Osmeña said BO-PK barangays suffered under the Rama administration.
“There may be clear exceptions. That’s what Rama was doing to us. So I’ll just give them a little regalo (gift). The chances are many of them (BO-PK barangays) suffered under Rama, receiving no cars, no this, no that. Akong tagaan (I’ll give them now),” he said.
But Osmeña said the non-payment of cash aid to barangay officials and workers started last February when Rama was still the mayor.
“(For the month of February, March) I’m still signing the vouchers now. Delayed payments. So you cannot say I’m starting it. No. He’s (Rama) starting it. And I’ll continue to pay even if you are all 100 percent Team Rama but only after end of June,” he said.
As of June 30, 2016, the city government still has P533 million remaining obligations to barangay officials, barangay workers, senior citizens and person with disabilities.
During Rama’s administration, barangay officials loyal to Team Rama received an honorarium of P15,000 a month, while barangay councilmen received P9,000. Both barangay secretaries and treasurers received P6,000.
Barangay lupon and tanods received P4,000 per month.
Osmeña clarified that the payment of honoraria of tanods and barangay officials are taken from the barangay’s Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA).
“Even during my time, it comes from the IRA of the barangay. But one way the previous mayor had squandered the money of the city is he took care of most of that,” he said.
Osmeña said the city spends more than P50 million just for lupons and tanods during Rama’s administration.
“So the barangay chairman could hire his friends, his relatives, and his leaders. So now, it’s up to them. I will no longer fund this activity unless given any specific approval,” he said.
But the mayor said Team Rama-allied barangays can ask for reconsideration.
Sought for comment, Tisa barangay chairman and Association of Barangay Council (ABC) president Philip Zafra said he still needs to study Osmeña’s decision.
He said there are a lot of barangays who are dependent on counterpart funding from the city to pay their employees.
Zafra, a Team Rama loyalist, said he hopes the mayor will reconsider his decision.
“All barangays were given a fair share during Rama’s time. For me, the decision is ill-advised. It’s not the barangay officials but the barangay residents who will be most affected,” Zafra said.