Bermejo-Asis rift over BHWs cash gifts worsen
ROXAS CITY – The political rift between Panay Mayor Dante Bermejo and opponent Licerio “Nene” Asis over the distribution of Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) cash gift has worsened.
This developed after Asis accused Bermejo of preventing the BHWs from going to the latter’s house to get their cash gifts while the latter also accused Gov. Victor Tanco, Sr. and allies for not respecting and coordinating with the mayor over the distribution of the said cash gifts.
“They should respect me as the town mayor of Panay even if we belong to different parties,” Bermejo said adding that the provincial government by-passed his office.
On other hand, Asis alleged that Bermejo prevented some BHWs to proceed to his house by closing the town civic center.
According to him, the municipal government of Panay was supposed to distribute its cash gifts earlier than the schedule of the provincial government, however, they conducted it on December 23 to coincide with the provincial government’s distribution.
Asis also said that those who were not given the cash gift were BHWs who did not proceed to his house where Tanco waited for them up to 4:30 in the afternoon of the same day.
Earlier, some 132 BHWs from Panay, Capiz sent a letter of complaint to Gov. Tanco that they were not able to receive their P700 cash gift last December.
Salvacion Baria, president of the Community Volunteer Health Workers Federation of Capiz (CVHWFC), informed Tanco that the health workers from barangays Bato, Agablo, Bago Chiquito, Agbanban, Daga, Candual, Linao, Bahit, Lus-unan, and Tanza Sur failed to receive the intended cash gift.
The health workers said that they went to Panay’s civic center on Dec. 23, 2009 to get the cash gift promised by the provincial government. They were told that to receive the amount, provided, they must sign the payroll brought by Myrna Bermundo, sanitary inspector II of the Capiz Provincial Health Office.
After signing the payroll, they were asked to proceed to the house of Asis at the Poblacion. There, Bermundo told them that there is no available money for them.
The health workers then proceeded to the Capiz Provincial Capitol but they were also told that there is no more money for them.
Meanwhile, Tanco said that the P700 cash gift for 132 barangay health workers are now ready for distribution.
Tanco clarified that a little misunderstanding between the one giving the cash gifts and the barangay health workers caused the delay.
He added that they conducted the distribution at the house of Asis because they were not welcomed by the municipality of Panay.
