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Tuesday, March 14, 2006
City to get P145 million for landfill area
PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has already ordered the Department of Budget and management to release around P145 million to the city from its withheld internal revenue allotment (IRA).
The city intends to use the fund for the acquisition of an area for a landfill.
"I want to make the announcement now, that the money will be solely, solely devoted to the acquisition of a landfill and the equipment that go with it," City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said in an interview Monday.
The mayor said he got the President's nod for the release of the funds during dinner last Thursday.
Duterte said the fund will be sourced from the 10 percent Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) of the City Government, which was withheld by the National Government during the transition years of former President Joseph E. Estrada to President Arroyo.
"There was this order to withhold 10 percent of the IRA of all local government and Davao City has to give up something like 200 million at that time" he said.
Arroyo, during the dinner, called Budget and Management Secretary Rolando G. Andaya and ordered him to release the fund for the city, Duterte said.
"Pero ngayon kasi, there are actually two modes of doing it, getting it (the withheld fund) outright but you cannot get the whole of it, it's either in staggered basis and for equal installments or you want it with higher interest, the money remains maybe with Landbank. The other is to monetize, and you get 70 percent, the 30 remains. Hindi palang ibigay lahat but that gives us about P145 million," Duterte said.
According to Duterte, he almost pleaded with the President to get the funding for the completion of the solid waste management system.
"The reason why I was really almost pleading with the President is because yung solid waste management natin is about complete, we have the garbage bins, the compactors, the equipment, tractors, except for the landfill, sabi ko kay Presidente, Ma'am I would really need the money badly to complete the system of Davao City," he added.
Duterte said the fund will be given to the city within the next few days.
Duterte added that getting the fund should also be credited to House Majority Leader Prospero Nograles since it was the congressman who made the appointment with the President for that Thursday dinner. According to him, Davao City is a favored place because it is close to the heart of Arroyo. (BRQ)
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (March 14, 2006 issue)
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