Members of the Cebu City Council has called out Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia for alleged misuse of calamity funds with rice distributions conducted in non-calamity barangays.

North district City Councilor Mary Ann delos Santos in her privilege speech revealed the undignified and questionable rice distribution program that favored Mayor Garcia’s political party.

Delos Santos disclosed that the rice was part of the 166,600 sacks purchased in November 2024 from A1Miling Corporation for over P49 million.

The purchase was charged to the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Funds (LDRRMF) Relief and Recovery Fund, a budget strictly intended for disaster-stricken areas.

The rice was allegedly distributed to different Barangays in the city, such as Duljo-Fatima, Basak Pardo and Quiot Pardo which were non-calamity areas.

However, Garcia during his press conference clarified that the rice was not distributed due to a declaration of a state of calamity but as part of social services.

He insisted that the budget for the rice purchase came from the Department of Social Services and not from LDRRMF’s Relief and Recovery Fund.

“That was not given because there was a state of calamity. It was given as a social service to the people. The DSWS provided the budget, and the funds came from the DSWS.”

He added that they would continue distributing the sacks of rice while ensuring compliance with the Commission on Elections rules on distribution. Siquijor had 241,529 arrivals with 154,154 domestic, 87,311 foreign, and 64 OFWs or 42.73 percent growth compared to 2023’s 169,225 arrivals.

In terms of share distribution of arrivals, Cebu had 67.50 percent, Bohol with 18.22 percent, Negros Oriental with 11.01 percent and Siquijor with 3.21 percent.