Cebu City’s barangay captains and councilors await the release of their monthly honoraria, but their treasurers and secretaries have to wait until next year to get their allowances from the city government.
Cebu City Administrator Jose Marie Poblete said it’s difficult for them to accommodate the request of the barangay treasurers and secretaries because the supplemental budget No.2 was already passed and approved by the City Council.
”Their request came late. It could’ve been included in the requests of barangay and captains and councilors, so we don’t have funds for it now,” Poblete said.
The Treasurers and Secretaries of Cebu City Barangays Inc. (TSCCBI) submitted a manifesto to the City Council early this month requesting for P3,000 monthly honorarium from the city government.
They believe village treasurers and secretaries deserve the allowance because they consider themselves as ranking officials of the barangay.
Like the barangay captains and councilors, TSCCBI members are also asking that the stipend, if granted, should be retroactive from January.
TSCCBI president Remie Alegre is waiting for the positive response from the City Council, but the manifesto was referred to the mayor’s office.
Poblete said they cannot give what they don’t have, but he promised to accommodate the request of TSCCBI next year.
Poblete said they are waiting for the opinion from the Commission of Audit (COA) on the legality of granting the allowances to barangay officials.
The city administrator said that if the COA will allow the stipend, they can allocate funds for it next year.