MT. PROVINCE - The Office of the Provincial Treasurer returned recently the P9,100,151.63 to the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (Opapp) that is intended for the construction of Sacasacan–Belwang farm-to-market road in Sadanga town.
The fund is part of the P25.40 million downloaded to the Municipal Government of Sadanga through a sub-memorandum of agreement (MOA) entered into between the past municipal and provincial officials out of P34.50 million earmarked for the town.
The immediate return of unutilized fund is in compliance to the adverse decision of the Supreme Court ruling on the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) as unconstitutional.
Mt. Province Governor Bonifacio Lacwasan Jr. requested the Opapp for additional time frame to complete the remaining ongoing projects in the municipality but unfortunately, it was denied by the Opapp due to time constraints of liquidation.
“We regret to inform you that we will not be able to grant your request and may we respectfully request for the immediate refund of all unused funds and savings to the national treasury through our office for recording,” wrote Ronald Flores, Opapp undersecretary for Support Services and Pamana National Program Manager.
The governor is baffled on why the Municipal Government of Sadanga was not able to complete the ongoing project considering the span of time allotted and the nature of the work, which is merely opening of road. However, he is optimistic their request for realignment will be considered by the funding agency.
According to Anthony Pandosen, one of the governor’s executive assistants, the immediate liquidation of the unused fund is necessary so it won’t hamper the release of another fund worth P50 million that is expected to be downloaded to the Provincial Government before the end of the month.
It can be recalled that the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) through its Agrarian Infrastructure Support Project (ARISP II), a special program of the agency, allotted a P10 million fund for the concreting of the Ampawilen-Opucan farm-to-market road but due to road-right-of-way, the condition of the road remains a problem.
Another project that has been involved in a controversy is the construction of a tramline to connect Barangay Betwagan to the road.
Accordingly, the contactor got the mobilization fund but the works stopped due to adverse claims of local residents. The project, under the post Harvest facilities of the Department of Agriculture, is now in limbo.
Despite the return of fund for the construction of Sacasacan- Belwang Road, Lacwasan expressed his appreciation and gratitude to the Opapp for the continuing support and intervention in extending development to the province. (Alfred Macalling)