ILOILO CITY -- The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has funded PHP470 million worth of projects to best performing local government units (LGUs) in the Western Visayas since the implementation of the Performance Challenge Fund (PCF) in 2010.
In a press conference on Monday, DILG-6 regional director Anthony Nuyda said the amount has specifically funded 202 sub-projects in the region, already completed as of October 30.
He said that bulk of the projects are in the province of Negros Occidental worth PHP140 million and in Iloilo province at PHP130 million.
PCF is an incentive provided to LGUs in the form of financial grant for local development projects. The grant is specifically given to LGUs which qualified for the Seal of Good Housekeeping or Seal of Good Local Governance.
“There are areas that we are looking in particular with the LGUs like good financial housekeeping, no adverse opinion of COA (Commission on Audit), they are following the policy of full disclosure, they have programs on disaster management and they are business-friendly and competitive LGUs,” he said.
One particular recipient of the PCF is the town of Concepcion in Iloilo province.
Mayor Millard Villanueva said that their town has been a recipient of the Seal of Good Housekeeping since 2011. DILG granted them PHP1 million for the drainage system project in 2011.
Another PHP1 million fund was provided to them in 2012 to continue the drainage system project.
In 2016, they again received another Seal of Good Local Governance. DILG granted Concepcion town with PHP3 million for the construction of one-storey building for Senior Citizens Federation and Association of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
The building at Barangay Poblacion in Concepcion now benefits around 3,000 members of the two organizations of the senior citizens and PWDs.
Villanueva stressed the building served as reward to the two civil society organizations, which have “contributed a in the development of the town by actively participating in municipal planning and implementation of programs and projects.”
“To give them recognition, we decided to build a facility for them through the Php3 million grant. This is how significant of DILG is because it has created a great impact to the people in Concepcion,” he added.
Nuyda expressed hope that they will be able to fund more projects of performing LGUs this year.
He disclosed that based on their initial and unofficial assessment, more LGUs in Iloilo are expected to receive the Seal of Good Local Governance. (PNA)
