By NORA SORIÑO
Iligan City Bureau Chief
ILIGAN City ― The Sangguniang Panlungsod here has approved and authorized Mayor Celso Regencia to use P30 million of the city calamity fund to purchase rice.
City vice mayor Jemar Vera Cruz yesterday said the calamity fund of this city is P104 million. It was learned that a ship has docked at the Philippine Port Authority here Sunday morning and after the necessary protocols under acting PPA manager Medardo Sosobrado.
Vera Cruz added that the village chiefs were directed to submit the lists of would-be beneficiaries to the City Social Welfare Development. There are 350 thousand residents here.
Association of Barangay Council president Cesarve Siacor said that at this point, city officials should “trust” barangay chairs and not do it themselves as it is “impractical” for them to do so as the people need these assistance soonest.
This response was in reaction to an alleged statement of City Information Officer Jose Pantoja that some barangay officials “(could not) be trusted.”
For his part, Councilor Noli Pardillo denied the allegations saying that the rice assistance will be coursed through the barangay officials but the the city has to do the monitoring.
