Tinibgan leaders indignify NGO for unapproved entry

TAGBILARAN CITY, December 8 (PIA)--Military authorities are into the shadows of a non-government organization which allegedly operates in a barangay without the courtesy of obtaining barangay approval in Maribojoc town.

At the receiving end of the petition is an NGO called Community Empowerment Resource Network (CERNET) which operates in Tinibgan Maribojoc, despite obtaining no approval from local officials. 

Residents alleged that on October 25, this year, CERNET gathered their identified beneficiaries in the barangay and, along with unidentified and reported members of Hugpong Mag-ungumang Bol-anun (HUMABOL), conducted meeting and psyco social activity in the barangay. 

The NGO accordingly distributed shovels and hammer to the members of Tinibgan Farmers Association (TIFA) duirng the meeting held at the house of a local leader Ira Pamat in the barangay. Local officials however refused to attend the meeting and give it legitimacy, sources from Maribojoc said. 

Residents however clarified that while they are not against NGOs legally operating in their barangay, they hit Cernet for forcing them to participate in rallies and mass mobilizations in exchange for farm implements. 

In a Barangay Council petition, residents that they unanimously adopted last November 15 No. 49 series of 2015 expressing indignation for the NGO's continued activity without explicit approval by the barangay council.

Corollary to the resolution is an open letter signed by at least twenty residents of the barangay addressed to Dr. Ojie Gimenez, Executive Director, CERNET. 

The letter, allegedly assailed the NGO for giving “lagaraw” (farm implement) to each resident and leaving the item to the house if the inhabitants refused to accept.

Residents said they know that they will be made to participate in the rally by the HUMABOL in exchange of it. 

Moreover, the residents said they did not heed the invitation of Ira Pamat, Executive-Director, Women’s Development Center (WDC) based in Tagbilaran City, Bohol and partner NGO CERNET for a livelihood training because they already knew the real motives of the NGO, said a report given by military authorities here during the recent provincial Peace and Order Council Meeting weeks ago.  

The residents also warned CERNET not to use their signatures to liquidate funds even as they alleged that the NGO is not registered with the provincial LGU. (rac/PIA-7/Bohol)