IS there discrimination in the grant of Barangay Aid, which is an integral part of Supplemental Budget Number 2 passed and approved by the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) last month?

This question cropped up after 23 barangays complained that they have not received their respective Barangay Aids while eight others have already received theirs.

At least P6.2 million was sets aside in the supplement budget for the Barangay Aid, to enable all 31 barangays to receive P200,000 each.

City Budget Officer Jessa Rayupa said the Barangay Aid is a special purpose fund in the mayor’s office and can be availed of by barangays if they submit their respective resolutions identifying their priority projects that will be funded by the Barangay Aid.

Rayupa said the mayor’s office will review these resolutions and if approved, will send a request to the budget office to release the funds to bankroll the approved project.

She advised barangay captains to coordinate with the mayor’s office for the release of the funds once they have submitted their respective resolutions.

But Councilor Lino Fernandez hinted of apparent discrimination in the granting of the Barangay Aid citing eight barangays that already received their respective shares of the fund, that seven barangays received P200,000 each but one reportedly received P300,000.

Fernandez and Councilor Marvin Fabia, a former Barangay Captain of Bolosan, said they had no problem withdrawing the amount during past city administrations.

Councilor Teresa Coquia cited the situation of Barangay Caranglaan that has long submitted its barangay resolution that identified the installation of additional close circuit television (CCTV) cameras, among others, but the barangay has not received an advice from the mayor’s office that the resolution has been approved.

The observations prompted Councilor Jose Tamayo to suspect that the distribution of the Barangay Aid is discretionary on the part of the mayor, who simply decides who should get aid regardless of identified projects.

According to Councilor Michael Fernandez, majority floor leader, the Barangay Aid is not intended for Christmas parties but for government services.

Meanwhile, Councilor Luis Samson Jr., was baffled by the statement of Rayupa that when a barangay project is approved by the mayor’s office, the budget office will still have to look for funding  when there was already a certification issued for the availability of funds. (Leonardo Micua)

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