BACOLOD City – Several village chiefs in this capital city aired their “serious concern” over what they claim partisanship of the administration of Mayor Evelio “Bing” Leonardia.
Barangay 7 village chief Bernabe Sibug yesterday said they will issue a manifesto regarding such concern just in time for the upcoming May 14 synchronized barangay and SangguniangKabataanelections.
In a press conference held yesterday in Barangay Mandalagan, 25 village chiefs – including Sibug – claim that the current city administration is “seemingly partisan” in the conduct of its political undertakings.
The manifesto, which will be submitted to the Department of Interior and Local Government, the Commission on Elections and the Office of the Mayor, will be signed by 36 out of 61 village chiefs in Bacolod, according to Sibug.
The village chiefs who will sign the manifesto were that of barangays that did not receivefinancial assistance ranging from P140,000 to P320,000 from the city government.
The financial aid was meant for the villages’ cleaning activities, like de-clogging of drainages, under Resolution No. 411 series of 2018 that the Sangguniang Panlungsod approved on April 4.
The village chiefs said the city government failed to explain why were they not granted with the financial aid.
They also claimed that the city government is selective in releasing the villages’ share in the garbage fee collection.
According to Sibug, there is an ordinance that entitles every barangay 50 percent of the garbage fee collected in its area.
“The release of [garbage fee] share to the barangays is politicized as only certain barangays were given their shares, others were not, and without any valid justification,” Sibug said.
The village chiefs also said the city government is “avoiding” to get endorsements from barangays it deems “not an ally.”
In addition, the city government hired thousands of casual workers, who have already been working at city hall since March this year, from its 25 “ally” barangays, Sibug claimed.
These “ally” barangays include 41, 39, 32, 30, 28, 26, 25, 23, 17 13, 9, 8, 5, 3, Vista Algre, Taculing, Sum-ag, Singcang-Airport, Punta Taytay, Pahanocoy, Mandalagan, Felisa, Cabug, and Alijis, said Sibug.
Sibug encouraged Bacolodnons not to let “certain practices or events to improperly influence them in the exercise of their right to vote.”
Bacolodnons must also hold concerned public officials accountable for their actions, he added.
Panay Newshas tried to reach the Office of the Mayor for comment but to no avail.
A source who works at city hall, who spoke on the condition that he will not be named, said Leonardia will give his statement regarding the matter on Monday./PN
