CITY HALL, Cebu City (December 23, 2022) — Thirty-one of the city’s 80 barangays received today amounts ranging from P3 million to P15 million each for their proposed projects they requested the City Government for funding.

Gipasalig ni Mayor Mike Rama sa mga kapitan nga ang bugtong anaa sa iyang hunahuna ang pagserbisyo ug pagbilin og maayong legasiya. (PIO/Rachel Toves)

Mayor Mike Rama told the barangay captains that regardless of their political inclination or party affiliation, and even if there are among them who attacked him in the past, they would receive help from his administration.

“I’m a person nga dili motinir og panimalos…. LAL ni siya—Leaving a Legacy. Ang akong mga ginikanan wala gyud nagtudlo og kalagot,” the mayor said.

I’m a person nga dili motinir og panimalos…. LAL ni siya—Leaving a Legacy. Ang akong mga ginikanan wala gyud nagtudlo og kalagot…. Kahibawo mo wala gyud ko mahinumdom sa inyong pagsaway nako.

Mayor Mike Rama

“Kahibawo mo wala gyud ko mahinumdom sa inyong pagsaway nako,” he added, and mentioned a quote attributed to St. Therese of Lisieux, who said “I spend my heaven doing good on earth”.

Amilo Lopez, Barangay Affairs Office head, said in an interview that only 31 barangays got to receive their funding as they were the first ones to comply with all documentary requirements.

Barangay Affairs Office Chief Milo Lopez hands to one of the city’s barangay captains a check placed inside an envelope to fund their proposed barangay projects. (PIO/Rachel Toves)

“Amo gyud ni silang gi-guide-ran unsaon pag comply, unsaon nga mapadali ang ilang mga requirements. Kani lang gyung 31 ang nakahuman…. Kugihan lang gyud sa ubang mga barangay aron sila na sab ang makadawat, sila mang tanan ang hatagan,” he said.

Lopez said the amount each barangay will get varies as it depends on the project proposal each submitted to the City Government this year.

Labitad. (PIO/Rene Martel)

For Barangay Captain Ronald Labitad of Pamutan, he needed P15 million for the riprapping, road concreting, and construction of two day care centers.

He said the riprapping and road concreting projects are for the damage caused by super typhoon Odette, while the day care centers are very needed by the children of Pamutan.

“Ang mga bata luoy kaayo ba nga naa ra sila sa kapilya (nag-eskuyla) ba, walay kabutanang sa ilang mga butang,” Labitad said.

For Barangay Captain Nerissa Doncillo of Paril, the P3 million she received is a great relief as it will lift the personal financial burden she is currently carrying.

“Ipalit na namo og dump truck para sa garbage kay wala may garbage truck ang among barangay,” she said, adding that right now she is renting a privately-owned truck using her own money for P8,000 a month to collect their garbage.

Doncillo. (PIO/Rachel Toves)

That is aside from the around P6,000 she spends per week for fuel for the dump truck, which collects garbage and bring them to the dumpsite in Binaliw three times a week.

Doncillo said she could not request for fuel allocation from the City Government as the truck they are using now is privately-owned.

“Maong salamat kaayo kang Mayor Mike kay karon makapalit na mi og among kaugalingong dumptruck unya maka-request na mi og gasolina gikan sa City Hall,” she said.

In his talk before the barangay captains, Mayor Rama appealed for them to trust him, saying his motivation is simply to serve the people.

“Saligi lang ko ninyo. Wala ra koy laing tumong, serving all. Serving all in the name of God, making service alive,” he said.

Ipalit na namo og dump truck para sa garbage kay wala may garbage truck ang among barangay.

Paril Barangay Captain Nerissa Doncillo

He likewise requested the barangay captains for their cooperation in helping realize the vision for a Singapore-like Cebu City. In particular, he requested that they help safeguard and make Sinulog 2023 a successful event.

“Tabangi ko ninyo…. Kinahanglan kitang tanan. Kay kung ako ra, unsa may mabuhat nako? You are the wind beneath my wings,” Mayor Rama said.

To conclude his talk, he sang to them in a cappella a portion of the song “You Got a Friend” by Carole King, as revived by James Taylor:

Mayor Mike Rama also appealed to the barangay captains to help his administration, saying they are the “wind beneath my wings”. (PIO/Rachel Toves)

“When you’re down and troubled

And you need some lovin’ care

And nothin’, nothin’ is goin’ right

Close your eyes and think of me

And soon I will be there

To brighten up even your darkest night

You just call out my name

And you know, wherever I am

I’ll come runnin’

To see you again.”  (PIO/rhm)