PEOPLE of Caloocan especially its electorate didn’t err when they overwhelmingly voted for ex-Rep.Oscar “Oca” Malapitan to become the city mayor as he’s really making true with his campaign promises.
There’s no denying that most village chiefs from Caloocan’s 188 barangays were closely allied with former mayor and now Rep. Recom Echiverri (District 1) given the latter’s nine years as local chief executive but for Mayor Oca, it does not matter.
Take for example Mayor Oca’s move to really extend his hands of reconciliation to his political foes when he orders the release of over P12.5 million to the entire barangays as part of their real property tax (RPT) share for the second quarter of this year.
“Election is over and as we have buckled down to work, it is important that all of us in the local government including those in the barangays are working hand-in-hand for the good of all and the city as well,” Mayor Oca says.
It was the first time the former District 1 congressman turned over the RPT shares to the barangay chairmen and/or their treasurers regardless of their political affiliations after assuming the city’s highest elective post last June 30.
He says he is expecting that the village chiefs will maximize the use of the funds especially on programs that will directly benefit their immediate constituents.
“With the release, we urge all barangay officials to put these funds to good use and invest them in projects that will be most beneficial for their constituents,” according to the respected mayor.
Under the Local Government Code, all barangays are entitled to 30 percent of all the RPTs collected within a particular quarter, wherein 50 percent is given to the barangays where the properties are located and 50 percent distributed equally among all of them.
According to some barangay captains, there were instances in the past administrations that the supposed immediate discharge of such portions was hampered because of poor fiscal management and sometimes, due to political maneuverings.
The RPT approved for release intended for the second quarter of this year amounted to a whopping P12,542,715.69.
“We will work to change this negative practice of delaying the release of RPTs.
We want all our barangays to get their fair share and on time, so that together we can effectively address the needs of city residents,” the mayor says.
Interviewed by this writer, many barangay chairmen, some of them are still associated with Echiverri, were all praises for Mayor Oca saying it has been first time that they encounter such politician who has never been vindictive especially to those who are known allies of his political adversaries.
They chorus: “On our end, we will give our full support to the administration of Mayor Malapitan because we see how determined he is in transforming the city into a more progressive and competitive local government in Metro Manila and all over the country.”
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