Mayors asked to list requests

THE Provincial Government, through Acting Gov. Agnes Magpale, wrote the mayors of the second district to list down the

projects that will come from the P55- million Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of Deputy Speaker Pablo Garcia.

“I have to ask the mayors to list down (the project). I-detalye nila nya among tan-awn didto sa (The mayors should specify the details of the project then we will check if it is in accordance with the) menu,” Magpale said.

She said they will check all the projects in the special allotment release order (Saro).

The financial assistance comes from the PDAF of Garcia placed in the Capitol’s trust fund.

Lump sum

Earlier, Garcia sent a letter to Acting Provincial Treasurer Emmanuel Guial to cancel his request to release the P55-million lump sum appropriations to the municipality of Dumanjug.

He explained that he chose to deposit the amount to Dumanjug to easily facilitate the distribution of financial assistance to the other towns in the entire district and it is not intended for the municipality alone.

Garcia said he will submit the request of disbursements to the Capitol based on the needs and requests of the local government unit.

Magpale said she would like to thank Rep. Garcia for withdrawing his request to
distribute the P55 million of his PDAF to Dumanjug for she will be held liable according to the Department of Budget and Management if it is not in accordance with the Saro.

“I would like to thank Congressman Pabling nga wa bitaw sya mo-insist (that he did not insist)…Nakasabot siya sa akong (He understands my) predicament that if I will release that and I will let the mayor of Dumanjug distribute that to the other towns, I will be accountable kay ako may mag-release(since I should be the one to release the amount),” Magpale told reporters.

Dumanjug Mayor Nelson Garcia is the son of Deputy Speaker Garcia.

Before ban

Magpale pointed out that they only have a few days left to release the financial
assistance to the municipality because of the election ban.

The election ban on public works will take effect at the start of the local campaign on March 29.

Included in the election ban are “public works, delivery of materials for public works and issuance of treasury warrants or similar devices for a future undertaking chargeable against public funds.”

“Moingon sila urgent. Nganung wala mana nila i-release og diretso sa mga (They say it’s urgent. But, why they did not release it directly to the) towns? And besides, some of the money came in early as 2009. And why now that it’s election year?” Magpale added.