Garganera hits cash aid withdrawal from Team Rama allies

GARGANERA

FORMER Tinago barangay chairman and now Cebu City Councilor Joel Garganera accused Mayor Tomas Osmeña of politicking with his decision to stop giving cash assistance to barangay officials affiliated with Team Rama.

“Why do we have to make things difficult? Let us simplify. Some functions are already devolved to the barangay and I mean everybody knew what’s his intention and that is because of the October barangay elections,” Garganera said.

The mayor earlier said that he will only give cash aid to barangay officials allied with the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK).

Garganera said some of the barangay officials, including barangay tanods, lupons and health workers, approached him and other Team Rama councilors and complained about the mayor’s order.

“Who among them wouldn’t be dismayed with the mayor’s pronouncement? And the barangay officials also asked our stand regarding the mayor’s move,” he said.

The councilor said officials from Barangays Lorega and Carreta were concerned about Osmeña’s decision to terminate the services of barangay health workers.

Garganera said they can go back to work so long as they are endorsed by a BO-PK official.

“I mean you have to read between the lines. Why have them go through that? It’s only P5,000, P6,000 paid to health workers a month. What’s the logic behind the mayor’s decision?” he said.

Despite the cancellation of their cash aid, Garganera still urged barangay officials allied with Team Rama to work for their constituents.

Garganera said the City Council will also invite officials of the Departments of Health, Interior and Local Government and the City Health Office to determine if the mayor’s order has any legal basis.

“But I heard from the BO-PK councilors who were appointed deputy mayors by Mayor Osmeña that they won’t allow anyone to attend our hearings,” Garganera said.

Garganera appealed to the BO-PK councilors to set aside politics and think about the welfare of all barangays.

“About 12 of the councilors now were former barangay officials, either chairpersons or councilmen/women. Now I am appealing to them: don’t forget the contributions of our barangay health workers when we talk about public health,” he said.

Sought for comment, Osmeña dismissed Garganera’s statement and said it is he who’s engaged in partisan politics.

“I have a P6 billion-deficit. You tell him to pay the P6 billion and I will restore everything. Stop talking about the barangay elections. We have a major deficit. That shows him as being all politics. Look at my office, I spent for that. I’m not complaining,” the mayor said.

Osmeña said it was former Cebu City mayor Michael Rama who cut off the funding for the financial assistance to the barangays. He said Rama had not released funds since March.

“All of these people, I’m just saying that starting my term, I’m not paying anymore. I’m just giving them advance notice so that they can prepare,” he said.

“It’s true that those who are with me . . . I’m just giving them a little break, for heaven’s sake. They suffered under Rama while Rama’s allies received more,” he said.