Kalinga adopts policy on development fund use

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- The Provincial Government has adopted a policy of rationalizing the use of the 20-percent economic development fund (EDF) to only fund projects that gain from economic returns and impact on the lives of the people.

Governor Jocel Baac met with provincial planners and made a review of the annual investment plan (AIP) to weigh inputs and make modifications on the selection of programs and projects to be funded in next year’s 20 percent development fund.

He said while the Provincial Government is sourcing out financial assistance to fund bigger projects, still the province could not cope up to incorporate all its priorities in the AIP.

“The number one problem is limited funds so that only those gaining high weights in the order of priorities are the ones funded and move on to the preceding year to continue on those being left out,” the provincial chief executive said.

To implement other priorities, particularly proposals coming from the barangays, Pumiyaan project, an anti-poverty convergence project of local government units, national agencies and the private sector, will take charge of the requirements.

Flordeliza Moldero, of the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO), said they are slowly adopting the rationalized policy to only pick up from a shopping list of priorities those that really result in positive return on investment and uplift the living standard of the people.

She said the EDF for 2012 totals to P91.6 million, an increase of P4 million from P87M last year. Bulk of the EDF went to economic sector amounting to P58 million; social sector – P28 million; and general public services – P5 million. (Peter A. Balocnit)