ALIAGA, Nueva Ecija – Small town political intramurals at the time of the Covid-19?
Mayor David Angelo Vargas on Tuesday appealed tothe Inter-Agency Task Force to “untie his hands from the requirement of sangguniang bayan actions” in responding to the coronavirus crisis.
This, as apprehension rises on the fate of 11,105 households that could have been jeopardized due to delay in the passage of a council resolution asked by the Department of Social Welfare and Development and Vargas’ office’s request for the P32–million anti-Covid-19 budget that remains unacted.
“Bakit hindi gumawa ang mga national agencies ng isang paraan na yung mga katulad kong mayor na hindi kaalyado ang karamihan sa sangguniang bayan ay makagalaw ng husto,” he said. “Makarating sana ang sitwasyon ko sa kinauukulan para magawan ng solusyon.“
Vargas noted that the DSWD in a memorandum has given them “on or before April 6, 2020” to submit the sangguniang bayan resolution that authorizes him to negotiate with the agency.
But Vice Mayor Erwin Javaluyas, council presiding officer, believed the national government would consider the fact that they passed the resolution in the afternoon of Tuesday, April 7, “doing away technicalities for the benefit of our constituents.”
Vargas and Javaluyas are political rivals with the mayor having only one ally in the municipal council.
Vargas said the SB should have passed the resolution on at least two previous sessions, first in a special session on April 2, and second, at the regular session on April 3, but nothing happened.
“Pa’no yan? Ibig bang sabihin nitan madilim ang kinabukasan ng mga taong nawalan ng trabaho, nung mga taong galing ng Metro Manila at kung saan-saang lugar na umuwi dito na umaasang makakatanggap ng ayuda galing sa DSWD?” he said.
Javaluyas, however, took exemption saying they have put in agenda and ready to pass the resolution on Friday, April 3, but no one came to explain the program, which he said, is essential part of the process.
Javaluyas said did not conduct a special session on Thursday and instead wrote a letter to Vargas.
“Sabi namin sa kanya through a communication letter all your agenda na gustong pag-usapan will be will be discussed on our regular session on Friday, kasi nga nasa Covid tayo e. Huwag ka naman basta-basta pupunta rito, siyempre yung mga sanggunian… saka yung 24 hours na notice sa amin ay hindi naman na-achieve ” he said.
“Nung Friday, nag-session kami e hindi naman dumalo yung mga department heads,” Javaluyas added.
As to the P32-million anti-Covid 19 fund, the vice mayor claimed the municipality has been spending the money even without the budget ordinance.
