Village chief to sue mayor over cash-for-work program

By Felipe V. Celino 

 

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – The village chief of Brgy. Hipona in Pontevedra, Capiz is mulling to file charges before the Office of the Ombudsman against the mayor and the chief of the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) for bypassing him in the implementation of the cash-for-work program.

According to Restituto “Resty” Oquendo of Brgy. Hipona Pontevedra, he and his fellow village chiefs were bypassed by Mayor Esteban Contreras in the process of distribution of the budget for the cash for work program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)

Oquendo said he wondered why only 15 persons have been funded by the program based on the program of the MSWDO, when 43 of them should avail of the said program.

Punong Barangay Henry Tumlos of Brgy. Lantangan, Pontevedra, Capiz shared the same observation saying that the village chiefs are contemplating a complaint against the mayor.

Tumlos said Contreras should properly implement the program in the barangays where the village chiefs should have participation by signing the documents.

Contreras rebutted the allegations of the village officials even as he welcomed any case to be filed against him in the Ombudsman.

The mayor clarified that he merely followed the directives of DSWD-6.

He said that under the directive of DSWD-6 Regional Director Ma. Evelyn Macapobre, it is no longer necessary to tap village chiefs in the implementation of the program.

It further stated that only a focal person, municipal social welfare and development officer, and municipal disaster risk reduction and management officer that should be involved in the implementation of the program.

Village chiefs are not included, Contreras added.