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| Provincial seal of Ilocos Norte, Philippines. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
LAOAG CITY—The Ilocos Norte Provincial Development Council convened a meeting at the provincial auditorium to re-program some PHP113.7 million of the development fund for 2017.
Following the new guidelines from the Department of Budget and Management and the Department of Interior and Local Government, seeking to enhance transparency and accountability of the local government units in the utilization of the 20 percent development fund, this compelled the Ilocos Norte government to make new listings in utilizing its remaining development fund this year.
This is pursuant to Section 287 of Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991, which states that: “each (LGU) shall appropriate in its annual budget no less than 20 percent of its annual (IRA) for development projects.”
Under the updated guidelines, the approved local development plans and annual investment program (AIP), which should be directly supportive of the Philippine Development Plan and the Public Investment Program should reflect the LGUs’ priority development projects.
For Ilocos Norte’s annual investment program this year, over PHP68.8 million were for its economic development projects. These include the construction and improvement of provincial roads, additional construction of farm to market roads and purchase of hauling or delivery trucks for onion production, marketing and trading enterprise, provision of farm equipment and facilities, upgrade of four fish facilities, procurement of refrigerated vans, wing vans and establishments of fish and soils laboratory.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Development Council also enacted a budget of more than PHP23.1 million for its social services ranging from improvement and rehabilitation of district hospitals, multi-purpose halls, acquisition of medical equipment and provision of street lights.
On environment management aspect, the PDC also re-appropriated a total of PHP21,770,713 for the greening of Ilocos Norte highway particularly around the Currimao port-fly in cruise route, including the Laoag airport connecting to major tourism sites here.
Ilocos Norte Governor Ma. Imelda Josefa “Imee” R. Marcos explained that they can no longer use the 20 percent development funds to pay personnel salaries and benefits; administrative expenses and allowances among others.