Kalibo MEEDO under review

WANTED: MORE INCOME. The municipal government of Kalibo, Aklan, wants to improve the Municipal Economic Enterprise Development Office’s revenue collection. Photo shows the  municipal hall. Photo from Aklan Forum Journal
WANTED: MORE INCOME. The municipal government of Kalibo, Aklan, wants to improve
the Municipal Economic Enterprise Development Office’s revenue collection. Photo shows the
municipal hall. Photo from Aklan Forum Journal
By BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

KALIBO, Aklan — The municipal government here will review the Municipal Economic Enterprise Development Office (MEEDO) to enhance its operations.

MEEDO divisions have been under fire for their poor performance in revenue collection, Sangguniang Bayan member Augusto Tolentino said.

“The local government will study what should and should not be done in MEEDO to streamline its divisions,” Tolentino said.

MEEDO was created by virtue of Municipal Ordinance 2010–001 during the time of then Mayor Raymar Rebaldo.

Tolentino said the office was established, out of “special and political accommodations,” for the supporters of Rebaldo.

A Commission on Audit report showed that MEEDO operations were still being subsidized using the general fund.

Among MEEDO divisions being publicly criticized for low revenue collection were the Administrative and Public Affairs Information Communications, Agricultural Services, Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Market Administration, Building and Grounds Maintenance, and Cash Division.

These divisions were in charge of issuing permits for fishing and registration of large animals, and operations and maintenance of the town’s public market, fruit stand and Kalibo shopping center, dog pound, municipal abattoir, solid waste facilities, and plant nursery in Tinigao and Nalook.

Other divisions were processing permits to use function halls, parks and exhibit areas, and radio advertisement and commercial plugs, and were also offering services for veterinary and meat inspection and Kalibo Ati-Atihan County Inn operation, among others.

“In the interest of efficiency and economy, these divisions must be restructured and streamlined to sustain, manage and operate a self-reliant MEEDO, and to generate revenue for Kalibo and improve service delivery,” Tolentino said. (Aklan Forum Journal/PN)