LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The Municipal Government announced the Office of Agriculture Secretary William Dar took over the cudgels of working out the release of some P16 million from the agency to complete the ongoing improvement of the vegetable trading post.
Mayor Romeo K. Salda expressed disappointment over some quarters in the agriculture department that are holding up the release of the committed funding support for the improvement of the vegetable trading post when the same was promised during the term of the previous administration.
“ We do not understand why some personalities in the department are trying their best to prevent the release of the remaining balance of the funds that was promised to improve the current state of the vegetable trading post so we brought the matter to the attention of Secretary Dar who in turn assured the release of the funds anytime,” Mayor Salda stressed.
Earlier, the agriculture department assured the municipal government the release of some P30 million to improve the vegetable trading post with only P14 million released as the first tranche while the second tranche amounting to P16 million will be released after the earlier released funds shall have been exhausted.
Mayor Salda claimed the municipal government had been following up the release of the P16 million from the concerned offices of the agriculture department for over a year now so that the trading post improvement project will be completed but the same has never been released because of alleged stumbling blocks within the department.
According to him, there were reports reaching him there are some individuals from the municipality that have been frequenting the DA central office and allegedly lobbying for the non-release of the remaining balance until such time the municipal government shall have closed the operation of the vegetable trading post which is opposite of what is aimed which is that the vegetable trading post remains a major economic enterprise of the municipality.
He appealed to concerned stakeholders who are being inconvenienced by the non-completion of the upgrading project for their utmost understanding and patience in awaiting the realization of the improvement of the town’s economic enterprise because the municipal government is following up the release of the remaining funds for the same to be implemented the soonest.
He disclosed the annual operation of the vegetable trading post is bringing in a significant amount to the coffers of the municipal government and closing the operation of the facility will definitely affect the internally-generated resources of the municipality.
Salda said with the takeover of the Secretary in the follow-up of the release of the balance of the funds promised for the project, the long overdue improvement of the vegetable trading post will be completed the soonest.
By HENT
