The leadership of the Sigma Municipal Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative (SME-MPC) maintained it cannot be dictated, especially by the local government unit (LGU) of Sigma.
“Indi pwede nga ma ditkahan kami sa kooperatiba nga bisan sin-o lang maka hulam nga wala sang papeles (The cooperative does not allow being dictated to lend money without documents),” said SME-MPC Manager John Joren.
Joren denied allegations that SME-MPC lent money to Sigma LGU, which allegedly used the money to pay the salaries of municipal hall employees for a two-day period last January.
“Indi man pwede nga kwarta sang kooperatiba ang i-sweldo namon sa empleyado kay may kwarta sa kaban sang munisipyo sang Sigma (We can’t pay the employees with the money of the cooperative because there is money in the coffers of the Municipality of Sigma),” emphasized Joren.
Even if he is also the municipal accountant, Joren clarified there were no discussions from either the executive or legislative branches of the Sigma LGU to obtain a loan from SME-MPC.
“Mag pahulam sang kwarta, dapat may voucher ina. Paano ko i-sulod ang kwarta sang kooperatiba sa kaban sang Sigma? Separado ang LGU kag cooperative (When money is being loaned, it comes with a voucher. How can I transfer the money of the cooperative into the coffers of Sigma LGU? The LGU and the cooperative are separate),” Joren explained.
Loaning from the cooperative also requires an application, which undergoes approval from the board of directors.
As for the slight delay in the release of salaries, Joren explained it was due to adjustments made in compliance with the salary increase of regular employees.
The Sigma LGU has around P7 million worth of funds remaining from fiscal year 2024 and an additional P3.3. million worth of collections.
Joren maintained the payment of salaries were done even if Sigma LGU is waiting for its share from the national tax allotment (NTA).