Mining firm improves barangay road

THE 5,843 residents of Barangay Don Juan Climaco Sr. (formerly Barangay Magdugo) in Toledo City now enjoy a concrete road that spans 260 meters in Sitio Panog that was once sludgy and accident-prone. The P3.3-million project was completed in two months and was turned over to the barangay last July 26 after the blessing.

The improvement of the barangay road will benefit the residents, especially the students and local farmers of Barangay Don Juan Climaco Sr. and neighboring Barangays of Cambang-ug, Media Once, General Climaco, Canlumampao, Puting Bato and Bagakay.

“This is by far the biggest donation the barangay has received. Among dakong pasalamat sa Carmen Copper Corp. Gani ang isa namo ka residente, nakaingon gyud nga human sa 65 ka tuig niya nga pag-antos, nanindot na gyud ang dalan,” said Barangay Captain Eduardo M. Climaco Jr.

During heavy rains, the road is almost impassable due to mud and potholes mostly caused by passing heavy equipment. Many of the residents have figured in accidents in the area, which is also a flood-prone.

“Our dilapidated roads have been a major problem in the barangay. There are still a lot to improve at Don Juan Climaco Sr. and we are working on it. We are very thankful that we have Carmen Copper as our partner in development,” Climaco said.

He said the barangay’s annual Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) is only about P4 million and only 20 percent of which is for development projects.

Joemar V. Pritos, Carmen Copper Community Relations department superintendent, said that no project will be completed without the collaboration with the barangay, so he thanked the barangay officials for their cooperation and continuous support to the operations of the mine.

He said that the project will help boost economic growth in the barangay and will help reduce poverty among the residents. (SunStar Cebu)

PHOTO CREDIT:  SunStar Cebu website

Retirement pay for barangay officials pushed

An ordinance that seeks to provide retirement gratuity pay to elected barangay officials in Cebu City is being pushed at the City Council.

Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia said he filed the proposed measure because under the Local Government Code, retirement is not part of the barangay officials’ enumerated benefits.

He said that providing retirement benefits, allowances and other emoluments to village officials is not prohibited.

Under Garcia’s proposed ordinance, qualified elected barangay councilors will receive P3,000 for every year of service while barangay captains will receive P5,000 for every year of service.

Sangguniang Kabataan officials and other appointed barangay officials are not covered.

Qualifications

Those who are qualified to claim the retirement benefits, if the ordinance is approved, are officials who have served at least one year in the barangay. Excluded are those who were ordered dismissed from service.

In the case of a barangay official’s death, his or her legal heirs will claim the benefits.

The mayor is tasked to implement the ordinance, if passed, and draft its implementing rules and regulations.

The proposed ordinance also requires the Office of the Mayor to set aside a yearly appropriation for the program.

Garcia’s proposed ordinance was referred to the committee on laws, committee on budget and finance, and the barangay affairs office for their comment and recommendation.

Asked about the matter, Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) President Philip Zafra said they support Garcia’s measure, saying that barangay officials have contributed a lot in the development of the barangays, especially in the delivery of basic services.

“They have sacrificed a lot and are accessible 24 hours a day and seven days a week to their constituents and yet they are the lowest paid. Likewise, they are receiving only an honoraria. Upon retirement of service, they don’t have benefits. Thus, this measure is worthy of our support,” he said. (SunStar Cebu)

PHOTO CREDIT:  Image of Cebu City Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia, Cebu City Website.

Award-winning barangays

QC barangay wins 'Gawad-Kalasag award

Barangay Sto. Cristo clinched the Best Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Council award in the 18th Regional Gawad KALASAG (Kalamidad at Sakuna Labanan Sariling Galing ang Kaligtasan).

Quezon City, through City Resolution 6981-2017 introduced by Councilor Franz S. Pumaren and Godofredo T. Liban II, extended its congratulations to Barangay Sto. Cristo.

Former Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) officer-in-charge Thomas M. Orbos awarded the Plaque of Recognition to Sto. Cristo for showing their initiative in helping the Filipino government in uplifting the standard of disaster management in the country.

Barangay Sto. Cristo showed an outstanding performance and devotion in promoting and implementing significant DRRM programs and innovations in accordance to Republic Act No. 10121, also known as the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010.

Gawad KALASAG is an annual award that recognizes individuals, non-government organizations, private sectors, and government organizations for having an outstanding contribution in the fields of disaster risk reduction and management and humanitarian assistance. (Politiko politics.com.ph)

3 Pagadian City barangays named cleanest, greenest barangays

PAGADIAN CITY, 25 August – The Pagadian City Ecological Solid Waste Management Board (ESWMB) awarded Barangay Tuburan as the Cleanest and Greenest Barangay after four quarterly contests among the 26 urban and urbanizing barangays during the ESWM Board Meeting and Awarding Ceremony held recently at the Executive Function Hall, City Hall Complex, here.

Barangays Kawit and  Tiguma bagged the second  and third spot respectively.

The winners received P300 thousand for the first place, P200-thousand for the second and P100-thousand for third place worth of projects.

“Winning barangays may choose their priority projects to pursue their clean and green programs,”  Clean and Green Evaluation Team Leader Jewelo P. Barrios said.

The city government led by Mayor Romeo P. Pulmones recognizes the people who work hard in the implementation of RA 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, particularly on waste segregation at source and their best practices, City Administrator Lauro Mendoza Sr. said during the awarding ceremony.

“Mayor Pulmones is very supportive in all your  quest as far as the implementation of RA 9003 is concerned. We implement this not because we were forced but because we wanted to live in a clean and orderly city,” the administrator added.

On the same occasion, the winners for the 3rd Quarter (October to December 2016) Clean and Green Contest were also declared.

Barangay Kawit received a cash prize of P18,000 as first place, Tuburan - second place with P16,000, Tiguma - third place with P14,000, Dao - fourth with P12,000 and Tawagan Sur got fifth place at P10,000. Non-winning barangays were given P2,000 as consolation prizes.

On the other hand, Barangay Tuburan got the top place in the 4th quarter of the contest evaluated from January to March this year. While Tawagan Sur got the second spot, Tiguma third, Balintawak fourth and Buenavista fifth placer with the same amount of prizes given in the previous quarterly contests.

Criteria for the said contest include waste management, functionality of the Barangay Ecological Solid Waste Management Council which includes segregation at source, segregated collection, and overall beautification. (PIA)