San Fernando to use additional P10-M share for road improvement
THE Local Development Council in the City of San Fernando, chaired by Mayor Edwin Santiago, approved over the weekend the proposed utilization of the additional P10,831,293.40 of the 20 percent local development fund.
The additional fund came from the adjusted National Tax Allotment (NTA) shares of San Fernando for the Fiscal year 2022 resulting from the adoption of the 2020 Census of Population as approved under Proclamation 1179 dated July 6, 2021.
“Noong una po kasi, binase ng [Department of Budget and Management] ang population sa 2015 census kaya ang 20 percent development fund lang natin noong una ay P259,147,917. Ngayon, binase na ng DBM sa 2020 census kaya yung pondo natin naging P269,979,210.40. May sobra tayong mahigit sampung milyong piso na puwede pa nating gamitin for our developmental projects,” Santiago said.
The LDC has decided to allocate the fund for the improvement of the road from the corner of Barangay Del Rosario to the City’s Civic Center.
The council believes this would provide easy access to the City’s Civic Center which houses the Covid-19 Kalingang Fernandino Isolation Facility and will soon be an annex of several government offices including Emergency Welfare Services, Senior Citizen Welfare, and Osca Services, Gender and Development Office, and other essential public offices and services.
Santiago reiterated that the city’s development projects will remain aligned to the national action plan for Covid-19 response and economic recovery projects.
“Dahil nasa gitna pa rin tayo ng pandemya, we will still be focusing our funds and resources in Covid-19 response. We just can’t let our healthcare system collapse. The CHO [City Health Office] and our medical workers and frontliners need every possible support from the LGU,” the chairperson said.
“When it comes to social and economic naman, ngayon po kailangan ang livelihood programs, entrepreneurial assistance at mga ayuda lalo na para sa mga informal economy. We have to help the nano and micro enterprises para umikot ang ekonomiya sa ibaba. Kapag umikot ang ekonomiya sa ibaba, bibili sila sa mga small businesses, ang small businesses bibili sa medium enterprises and so on. Muling aandar ang ekonomiya ng siyudad,” he added.
With the adjusted shares from NTA, the City Government of San Fernando now has a total of P269,979,210.40 for 2022 proposed 20 percent LDF. Fifty-five percent of this total will be allotted for economic development, 35 percent will go to Environmental Management, and 10 percent will be set aside for Social development.
Joining Santiago in the blended meeting were Vice Mayor Jimmy Lazatin; Councilor Benedict Jasper Simon Lagman, Chairperson, Committee on Appropriations, Budget, and Finance; Pampanga Third District Representative Aurelio Gonzales Jr.; House of Representatives Political Affairs Officer Engr. Aurelio Gonzales; local government unit’s heads of offices and attached agencies; barangay captains; and several representatives from public and private sectors.
Santiago thanked the members for their active involvement and contribution to the council.
“Dito po sa San Fernando ang pangongobyerno natin is participative. Bawat activities and council at lahat po ng mga programa kasama po natin ang bawat organisasyon at private sectors lalo na sa economic development. Kaya pinapasalamatan ko ang bawat-isa sa inyo na nagta-trabaho upang magampanan ang ating mission and vision for the City of San Fernando,” the mayor said. (PR)