CDN Picture/ Pia Piquero
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Please verify your info.
This was the recommendation of Cebu Metropolis Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia to some members of the town council concerning the alleged misuse of calamity funds for political achieve.
Allegations surfaced that sacks of rice, sourced from calamity funds, have been distributed in non-calamity areas.
On March 19, 2025, Councilor Mary Ann de los Santos delivered a privileged speech, calling out what she described as an undignified and questionable rice distribution program that appeared to favor Mayor Garcia’s political occasion.
De los Santos revealed that the rice was a part of the 166,600 sacks bought in November 2024 from A1 Milling Company for over P49 million.
The acquisition was charged to the LDRRMF’s Aid and Restoration Fund, a price range strictly supposed for disaster-stricken areas.
READ: Cebu Metropolis’s calamity fund: Council probes alleged misuse for political achieve
The sacks of rice have been allegedly distributed to completely different barangays within the metropolis, resembling Duljo-Fatima, Basak Pardo, and Quiot Pardo.
Nonetheless, in an interview, Garcia clarified that the rice was not distributed because of a declaration of a state of calamity however as a part of social companies.
He additionally emphasised that the price range for the rice buy got here from the Division of Social Welfare and Companies (DSWS) and never from the LDRRMF’s Aid and Restoration Fund.
“Wala mana gihatag kay naay state of calamity. Gihatag mana as a social service sa mga tawo, DSWS ang nihatag ug price range, pondo na sa DSWS,” Garcia stated.
(That was not given as a result of there was a state of calamity. It was given as a social service to the individuals. The DSWS offered the price range, and the funds got here from the DSWS.)
Apart from this, Garcia identified that the acquisition order posted on-line was completely different from the one used to acquire these sacks of rice.
“Dili man to mao kay gi-deliver to I believe November or December of final 12 months. Marso na gud ron, hagbay ratong nahurot kadtong catastrophe nga fund sa rice. So kani lain nani nga pondo, lain nani nga supply of fund sa DSWS,” he added.
(That’s not the identical as a result of that was delivered, I believe, in November or December of final 12 months. It’s already March, and the rice from the catastrophe fund was used up way back. So, it is a completely different fund, a distinct supply from the DSWS.)
He added that they’d proceed distributing the sacks of rice whereas making certain compliance with the Fee on Elections (Comelec) guidelines on distribution.
Garcia additionally urged councilors to confirm their data earlier than making public statements.
“Murag angay tingali nga earlier than sila moabli sa ilang baba, ilang i-check ang ilang info. Earlier than nila ipagawas sa media ilang i-check ilang info, kay mahug man gud that they’re spreading pretend information. Diba?, with out realizing the info and checking unsa’y tinuod ug dili. Mao nga mo-appeal ko nila earlier than going public, please verify your info,” he appealed.
(I believe earlier than they open their mouths, they need to verify their info. Earlier than they launch statements to the media, they need to confirm their info as a result of in any other case, it looks as if they’re spreading pretend information, proper? With out realizing and checking what’s true and what’s not. That’s why I attraction to them: earlier than going public, please verify your info.)
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