Manila Bulletin
Philippines
Joy Belmonte vows to punish barangay officials who fail to distribute relief goods to constituents
Philippines
Joy Belmonte vows to punish barangay officials who fail to distribute relief goods to constituents
Joy Belmonte vows to punish barangay officials who fail to distribute relief goods to constituents
Published Apr 3, 2020 12:00 am
By Chito A. Chavez
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte on April 3, Friday, vowed to inflict punishment on corrupt and erring barangay captains and other city officials who will fail to distribute food packs to residents affected by the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and resort to other nefarious activities.
Quezon City (QC) Mayor Joy Belmonte
(Facebook / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) “We ask our barangay captains and city officials to set aside differences and distribute food packs to the most affected families,” said Belmonte. The QC mayor’s warning came at the height of complaints that the beneficiaries are being shortchanged by rogue barangay officials when it comes to the distribution of food packs. “Favoritism and politics have no place during this time of need. Food packs should be given to those in need, regardless of political affiliation and preference,” she added. Belmonte has vowed to act accordingly, warning that barangay captains and city officials will be suspended if they remain stubborn and refuse to heed her call. “During this time of great need, we ask everyone to set politics aside and help each other. No one should be left behind,” Belmonte stressed. Belmonte called on residents who have yet to receive food packs from the city government to report their barangays to the Office of the Mayor via [email protected]. “This should not be happening because we have already distributed one million food packs in Quezon City,” Belmonte pointed out. She noted that Quezon City’s food relief effort is based on the list of beneficiaries identified and submitted by barangay officials to the local government. “So it would be best to refer questions about food packs to your respective barangay officials,” Belmonte added. But some disgruntled residents insist they will surely be given the run-around if the concerned barangay officials are crooks. “Mahirap mayor kung ang mga taga barangay mismo ang nagkukunchabahan. Natural takipan yun (It is difficult if those in the barangays are in connivance. It is natural for them to protect their own kind),” a Barangay Botocan resident complained. To meet pressing needs, the city government has increased its food pack target to 750,000 families for batches 3 and 4, including unregistered families, transients, and non-QC residents who were similarly affected by the enhanced community quarantine.
Quezon City (QC) Mayor Joy Belmonte(Facebook / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) “We ask our barangay captains and city officials to set aside differences and distribute food packs to the most affected families,” said Belmonte. The QC mayor’s warning came at the height of complaints that the beneficiaries are being shortchanged by rogue barangay officials when it comes to the distribution of food packs. “Favoritism and politics have no place during this time of need. Food packs should be given to those in need, regardless of political affiliation and preference,” she added. Belmonte has vowed to act accordingly, warning that barangay captains and city officials will be suspended if they remain stubborn and refuse to heed her call. “During this time of great need, we ask everyone to set politics aside and help each other. No one should be left behind,” Belmonte stressed. Belmonte called on residents who have yet to receive food packs from the city government to report their barangays to the Office of the Mayor via [email protected]. “This should not be happening because we have already distributed one million food packs in Quezon City,” Belmonte pointed out. She noted that Quezon City’s food relief effort is based on the list of beneficiaries identified and submitted by barangay officials to the local government. “So it would be best to refer questions about food packs to your respective barangay officials,” Belmonte added. But some disgruntled residents insist they will surely be given the run-around if the concerned barangay officials are crooks. “Mahirap mayor kung ang mga taga barangay mismo ang nagkukunchabahan. Natural takipan yun (It is difficult if those in the barangays are in connivance. It is natural for them to protect their own kind),” a Barangay Botocan resident complained. To meet pressing needs, the city government has increased its food pack target to 750,000 families for batches 3 and 4, including unregistered families, transients, and non-QC residents who were similarly affected by the enhanced community quarantine.