Thursday, April 24, 2008 Town wants leeway in using dev't fund
TOWNS depending on share from the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) as their main source of income have difficulty complying with the guidelines imposed by the National Government in the disbursement of this budget.
The Sablan Municipal Government wants to have an autonomy in deciding what programs should be funded under the 20-percent development fund from its IRA.
The town is seeking exemption from the circulars issued by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for the utilization of the 20 percent annual development plan of fourth- and fifth-class municipalities.
Sablan officials said the municipality is having difficulty implementing projects under the 20 percent development fund since the guidelines issued by the DBM and the DILG do not cover programs, which benefit its people.
The Municipal Government said the projects enumerated in the guideline for the utilization of 20 percent of the IRA do not cover basic services such as programs for agricultural development, social services like the promotion of the welfare of elders, youth and women and environment protection, among others.
For a fifth-class municipality like Sablan, officials said agriculture, environment and delivery of basic health services are among the priority programs which should be funded under the development fund.
These, however, are not covered by the DBM-DILG circular, which was issued in September 2005.
Sablan wants fourth- and fifth-class towns exempted from the guidelines. (JC)
