City of Fernando – The Provincial Government of Pampanga is eyeing the approval of the proposed P389 million Assistance to Municipalities (AM) from the national government to fund the identified development projects of various municipalities and cities of the province for the year 2018.
This was gleaned during the Local Development Council Participatory Project Prioritization Conference cum Provincial Alliance Building held at the Kingsborough International Convention Center here.
The conference was initiated by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to identify development priorities and to discern provision of funding assistance to local government units from the provincial government.
According to Governor Lilia Pineda, the said P389 million fund will be utilized by municipalities and cities to boost community development projects such as local access road, potable water system, evacuation center and disaster risk reduction projects, safe and hygienic facilities and small water impounding among others.
“Maganda ang ugnayan ng DILG, national government at ng kapitolyo. So, bago matapos ang aking termino at ng Presidente maaaring isa ang Pampanga sa mga pinakamagagandang probinsya,” the governor added.
At present, records from DILG shows that Pampanga has the highest project implementation rate in Central Luzon.
In a brief speech by DILG Regional Director Julie J. Daquioag, she cited that the national government has been providing assistance to numerous municipalities since 2014 through the bottom-up budgeting program (BUB).
This year, a total of P347 million was allotted by the national government for the assistance to municipalities (ATM) program for the completion of several projects before the end of December.
Meanwhile, DILG Provincial Director Myrvi Apostol Favia also reminded municipal mayor of each town to accomplish their comprehensive development plan as it is a requirement for the approval of the budget.
The conference is the realization of the alliance and convergence between the provincial and local government units towards a progressive and unified Pampanga. –Ma. Reina Len Luna