Bacolod councilors shun call for COVID fund audit

By Dolly Yasa

 

BACOLOD City – The call to audit and accounting of the P119-million Bayanihan funds allocated for the city’s response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) apparently fell on deaf ears during the recent session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod here.

Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr. said Thursday that he called for an audit of the funds which is a prerequisite before the national government releases the second batch of Bayanihan money.

“In the spirit of transparency and accountability, we need a report from the City Budget Office on how these funds were spent,” Gamboa said.

The virtual session of the Bacolod SP Wednesday showed that after Gamboa presented his resolution, Vice Mayor and SP presiding officer El Cid Familiaran asked the other councilors to second the motion.

There was only silence, prompting Gamboa to repeat his resolution and again Familiaran asked for any second motion but still, no one answered.

Familiaran then asked if there are any other matters to be discussed and Gamboa moved for the session to be adjourned.

Gamboa, the lone opposition member in the city council, said “Nobody seconded and all the resolutions and ordinance were either killed or accepted with no action taken. They are petty and trivial. I could only laugh.”

“Yes, when I said petty, they are nit-picking on the minor rather than on the wisdom or substance of the resolution. They are majoring on the minor,” Gamboa said, referring to two colleagues in the council.

He added that “it only showed their loyalty to the Executive and not to the principle of transparency, accountability and good governance. The new normal now in regaining back the trust of the people combating corruption, etc., entails collaboration and interaction by the govt with the private sector, the citizenry in general acting towards a unified governance. In this case none. Secrecy man sa gihapon.”

Meanwhile, the city council approved a resolution authored by Councilor Dindo Ramos asking Mayor Evelio Leonardia to extend financial assistance to the transport sectors (jeepney and tricycle drivers) that were directly affected after the city was placed under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine as no public transport is allowed.

He said the funds could be taken from the assistance from the national government.

Councilor Carl Lopez requested that the fisherfolks and the farmers should be included.

Councilor Bart Orola also said the vendors who are also affected by the pandemic should be included as well.

Beauticians, barbers, waiters, and event organizers were also included in the proposed assistance.

Ramos said they will let the mayor decide who else will receive the financial aid.

He said what is important is that the funds will be utilized or else it will be reverted to the national government.