BAUKO, Mountain Province – Mayor Randy Awisan defended the implementation of the road concreting project near the municipal hall that was earlier questioned by some members of the local legislative body as within the bounds of the utilization of funds under the municipal disaster risk reduction and management fund, particularly the quick response fund.
He claimed that the funds that was used for the said project came from the Department of the Interior and Local government (DILG), particularly the cash reward for being one of the towns that was conferred the coveted Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) award.
The local chief executive added that the concreting of one of the lanes of the road was undergoing the curing stage when it was affected by the continuous rains triggered by the monsoons season that resulted in the alleged collapse of the pavement, including the sewer lines that were in the said area.
The mayor stated that the local government had to immediately restore the collapse pavement and the affected sewer lines, thus, the quick response fund under the municipal disaster risk reduction and management fund was used for such restoration works to address the complaints of the residents in the area of the reported obnoxious odor emanating from the damaged sewer lines.
Earlier, Councilor Edna Capuyan questioned the implementation of the said project which was allegedly program, procured and implemented by one person which is in gross violation of existing budgeting rules and regulations.
The supposed funds for the said works was previously included in the proposal of the municipal disaster risk reduction and management office for supplemental budget amounting to P3.5 million but the manner by which it was procured, programmed and implemented was questioned as the same was allegedly done by only one person, according to Councilor Capuyan, which is considered violation of existing laws, rules and regulations.
Under the pertinent provisions of Republic Act (RA) 7160 or the Local government code of the Philippines, local councils are empowered to review and approve the annual and supplemental budgets of local governments pursuant to related laws, rules and regulations.
Further, appropriation of funds by the local governments must be covered by duly enacted appropriation ordinances by the concerned local councils following the conduct of thorough deliberations to ascertain the validity and legality of the submitted budget proposals.
Capuyan clarified that it is the mandate of the local legislative body to safeguard the wise use of public funds so that the programs, projects and activities where the same will be allocated will be for the benefit of the greater majority of the populace and that the questions that were earlier raised on the identified projects funded by the P3.5 million supplemental budget under the municipal disaster risk reduction and management fund were valid and deserves the proper explanations from concerned offices.
She asserted that the limited funds of the local government should be wisely used, especially for the projects that will contribute in spurring the local economy to provide people with employment, economic activities and other sources of livelihood in the future. By Dexter A. See
