Some residents of Barangay San Miguel, the third biggest barangay in Puerto Princesa City with almost 20,000 populations, took to social media complaining against the leadership of their Barangay Captain.
They complained against not seeing or feeling his presence, and receiving only 3 kilos of rice per family with no alcohol and face masks (unlike other barangays that give out complete grocery packs).
Brgy. Captain Russell Gloriani answered, in an exclusive interview with Palawan Daily News, that his absence in the first 2 weeks of of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) was due to the need to undergo home quarantine after his earlier travel to Manila.
He clarified that in spite of his absence, he properly delegated all functions and tasks to other members of the Barangay council.
“Oo hindi ako nakita ng dalawang linggo dahil nag-self-quarantine tayo kasi galing tayo sa Manila at Baguio, pero simula nung tayo ay dumating lahat ng ginawa ng ating mga kagawad at mga frontliners natin, ay ako ho ang nag-iinstruct sa kanila,” Gloriani said.
Gloriani added that a number of his council members were also “absent”. “Ang problema lang natin kulang ang ating barangay council, kasi yung kagawad na kasama ko na pumunta sa Baguio eh nag self-quarantine din, meron tayong isang kagawad na senior citizen na hindi na natin inabala pa, meron pa tayong isang kagawad na nasa hospital,” Gloriani explained.
He however adds that they were immediately able to troubleshoot the loopholes and were able to extend assistance to his constituents. “Sa sitwasyon natin napakahirap dahil napakalawak ng area natin, simula po brgy. hall hanggang dun sa kadulo-dulohan ng aming purok ay nasa 2.7 kilometers ang layo, kaya kung makikita natin may mga purok sa Wescom na halos isang barangay na ang kanyang sakop, gaya ng Bagong Silang alam ko marami nagre-reklamo diyan pero apat na libo po ang residente dyan, dalawang libo mahigit ang bahay dyan, nung binigyan natin yan ng bigas umabot kami ng isang araw at kalahati,” Gloriani added.
He also clarified complaints that they didn’t give alcohol or face masks, and was compared to other barangays that gave out complete grocery packs. “Meron naman tayo naibigay na alcohol pero hindi ganun kadami, kasi nga di ba nagkaubusan ng alcohol, at nakapagbigay kami ng kulang-kulang na 300 na health kit, may naibigay tayong multi-vitamins, may sabon tayo, may alcohol, yung SK namigay ng multi-vitamins para sa mga kabataan, naka 1,500 din na purchase ang naipamigay nila,” he said.
Gloriani stated that they lack funds and cannot immediately pull out all the funds they have since they have many protocols to follow. He welcomes aid from numerous private individuals but it is not enough. “Meron na ring mga private individuals ang tumulong sa atin pero iilan lang sila, sumulat na rin ako sa mga malalaking establishment dito sa san Miguel ngunit hanggang ngayon ay walang sagot, kami po talaga ay nangangailangan sapagkat napakarami po ang nangangailan nating kababayan, yung atin pong pinamimigay na tulong ng barangay ay talaga pong hindi sapat para doon, kaya talagang kailangan na kailangan po namin ng tulong,” he said.
Aside from the 3 kilos of rice, they are now in the process of distributing the cash assistance from the City Government. The brgy is also looking for another wave of relief goods to be given out which will be coming from their 20% development fund to help everyone in San Miguel.
“Naiintindihan ko kung anu ang nararamdaman nyo dahil talagang krisis itong pinagdadaanan natin, pasalamat pa rin tayo dahil wala tayong COVID cases dito sa Puerto Princesa, yung atin pong pagkukulang, inaamin po natin na hindi tayo perpekto sa pag-aabot agad ng tulong sa atin, sana po ay maging considerate po tayo sapagkat simula po nung Pebrero paglabas ng COVID problem ay naka monitor na ho ang ating barangay, nagtra-trabaho na po ang frontliners natin particular po nakapadami nating PUM dito na talagang araw-araw mino-monitor yan ng mga Barangay Health Workers natin, pasensya na kayo kung sa tingin nyo ay nagkulang kami pero ginagawa pa rin namin ang best namin na maka-abot kami ng tulong sa inyo,” Gloriani said in closing.
The Barangay opened a HOTLINE number to answer questions and handle complaints. It is managed by the Sangguniang Kabataan officials of San Miguel. People can contact them at 09673505811 for Globe users and 09385259153 for Smart. It is open from 8am to 9pm daily