JERICK Mendez, married, a resident of purok 1, barangay Sinandigan, Ubay, Bohol bared he failed to claim his wage as campaigned for by the so-called barangay community brigade (BCB) allegedly created under the administration of Gov. Arthur C. Yap.
He sent a letter dated June 15, 2022, which found its way in facebook and shared many times, addressed to provincial treasurer Eustaquio Socorin for him to claim his wage.
“Sa akong kahibulong nga aduna nay nakakuha ug gikawat ang akong pirma nga ila na usab gikobra ang akong kantidad nga para sa akoa,” he said. (To my surprise, somebody forged my signature and got my share from treasurer’s office).
But he did not mention how much he was supposed to receive the said wage and for what job he has done.
Mendez said that he was listed as one of the beneficiaries who was “recruited’’ by the BCB before the elections in May 2022, adding that he had signed the daily time record (DTR) for the said wage charged to Capitol’s general fund.
The TIMES tried to confer with Ubay information officer Larry Evangelista of the said Ubay resident. The latter said he will try to find out, also.
It was not known if Mendez’ inclusion into the list he mentioned was part of the alleged ploy in the guise of job for the election campaign purposes as photocopied copy or list of barangay workers has been circulating, and shared many times in facebook before the last elections.
The said list is marked BEPO-PESO job order for rural emergency employment assistance program with names of workers being blurred, rate per day, period of employment and office assignment. The worker is called “barangay community brigade” in the list and their area of assignment is Bilar town.
A very reliable Capitol source (identity is withheld) disputed the claim that BEPO’s hiring of barangay community brigade is a ploy for electioneering.
The source confirmed the said list but it does not mean it is for election campaign. Accordingly, it just coincided with election period. The source said that not all towns have this employment.
The (rural emergency employment assistance) program was primarily for employment of those who lost their jobs during the pandemic and those heavily affected by super typhoon Odette in December last year.
Another point, the source, is that BEPO (Bohol Employment Placement Office) is now equivalent to a regular department of the Capitol. It will start its operation this year but the unfilled positions under it have yet to be opened for application, the source said.
The said program is similar to the STARS employment program launched by both private and government during the term of the late Gov. Erico Aumentado. It was launched when the election was forthcoming. But the succeeding administration of then Gov. Edgardo Chatto did not continue the said employment program for unknown reasons, the source said.
Earlier, Jagna Mayor Joseph Ranola, who has been working in Congress budget as consultant, questioned notable increase of its budget of the BEPO with P183,193,969.92 this year (2022). This is enormous hike from just P19,449,071.25 in 2021. BEPO had an allocation in the amount of P2,644,464.63 and P9,527,492.82 for the years 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Ranola showed to the municipal mayors how the current budget of the governor’s office hiked during the press conference launching the Crusada Alang sa Limpyong Pangobierno para sa mga Bol-anon (Crusade for Good Governance for the Boholanos).
He said that this year’s budget for the governor’s office (GO) is pegged at a whopping P433,686,539.20 from last year’s P368,540,667.96. In 2020, the budget was placed at P313,113,138.28 and P230,710,131.23 in 2019.
Its 2022 budget, the Provincial Govt Information and Media Relations o PRIMER, is P40,761,860.36 from calendar year 2021’s P31,800,866.90. In 2020, it had only P11,992,498.96 and in 2019, P10,715,374.53, based on document shown by Ranola.
This year’s program appropriation or budget (estimate) P4,278,523,604.99. This is lower than last year’s P4,591,944,606.00 estimate. In 2020, the (actual) total was P1,924,559,772.67; and in 2019, (actual) P1909,573,127.93.
The province’s share of the Internal revenue Allotment (IRA) from the national government, the main fund source, ballooned to P3,302,823,605.00. It increased from last year’s P2,419,730,404.00. In 2020, the province was recipient of P2,257,700,704.00 and P2,002,328,148.00 in 2019. (rvo)
