BY: ELVIRA C. BONGOSIA
TAGBILARAN CITY, June 06 (PIA)--Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas and Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Butch Abad arrived in Bohol this morning to turnover the earthquake recovery and rehabilitation fund for the province.
Bohol Gov. Edgar Chatto and Vice Gov. Conching Lim lead Provincial Officials and local DILG in welcoming Roxas and Abad.
Roxas and Abad proceeded to Dao Central Market as they inspected and talked with the vendors. They had breakfast of Bohol’s local sikwate, puto maya and ripe mangoes at one of the stalls with Gov. Chatto and Tagbilaran Mayor John Geesnell Yap II.
They then proceeded to the Peoples’ Mansion where Roxas joined Gov. Chatto, Vice Gov. Lim, Provincial Administrator Ae Damalerio and Mayor Yap at this morning's "Kita ug ang Gobernador" where he turned over in the presence of Provincial Officials close to P2.4 billion for the rehabilitation of local public infrastructure damaged during the earthquake.
Roxas said the fund is a product of the post-disaster needs assessment of Engineers, compiled into program of works. The fund is for the rehabilitation of local public infrastructure in earthquake affected areas based on the damage report submitted in the Bohol Rehab Plan.
The 2 secretaries also graced the inauguration of the P17M 4.45km Bingag-Tinago-Biking Road in Dauis and the kickoff of the P275 million 14-road Bohol Emergency Repair and Rehabilitation Project, all funded by the Australian Government through the Provincial Road Management Facility (PRMF).
Roxas and Abad together with Chatto, DILG Reg. Dir. Ananias Villacorta, and Prov. Dir. Louisella Lucino conducted a dialogue with the Bohol Civil Society Organizations.
During the dialogue, Roxas announced that the national government has allocated P636 million for anti-poverty projects under the Grassroots Participatory Budgeting Process. He urged LGUs to conduct assemblies for CSOs to present proposals for inclusion and funding as well as to monitor project implementation.
Roxas also keynoted today's Liga ng mga Barangay Provincial Congress at the Bohol Cultural Center where he turned over P26 million under the Performance Challenge Fund for 26 LGUs that were awarded the Seal of Good Housekeeping by the DILG.
The Congress is themed "The Role of Punong Barangays in Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction Management". (mbcn/ecb/PIA7-Bohol)