Odsey urges barangay share from dev’t funds

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- Congressional candidate Franklin Odsey sees the need for barangay Local Government Units to have a proportionate share in the Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) of the congressman.

As it is, barangay support from the solon’s PDAF is identified at the discretion of the congressman.

The proposed policy of the former three-term Provincial Board Member and incumbent Bontoc mayor calls for an ensured budget from congressional funds for barangay LGUs to augment support for their programs and services.

Barangay LGUs source their funds from Municipal and Provincial LGUs, which in most cases have meager allocations if not discretionary, on the part of the LGU decision making bodies.

Odsey finds backing in the need for barangay support and proportionate fund in his previous performance as a vice mayor and incumbent mayor. The former vice mayor institutionalized the annual P40,000 assistance to each of the 16 barangays of Bontoc.

Through legislation, he increased the honoraria of barangay health workers , barangay tanod and Day Care teachers of Bontoc. The incumbent mayor institutionalized barangay Brigada fund support to ensure peace and order, and facilitated proportionate sharing of School Board Fund for athletic and academic development by private and public schools.
One of the basic needs of barangays in the Province is health-related services and facilities which in most cases are lacking. Not all 144 barangays of the Province have their health centers. In Sagada, for example, there are only six health centers found in 19 barangays.

Odsey sees the need for every barangay to have their health center and provide basic medicines.

Influenza, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and diarrhea are among the top ailments in remote barangays among children in Mountain Province which in most cases need immediate attention at the nearest health center available.

Odsey also noted that proper nutrition remains to be a top need along with preventive medicine to lessen if not avoid hospital expenses.

At the same time, improving hospital facilities is a must to provide better health services.

Health remains one among the major concerns of Odsey not only for Bontoc but also in other municipalities of the province. Through the facilitative role of the Mayor, medicines were distributed to the ten municipalities of the province.

Allocating support from the PDAF is a top priority to address health related concerns especially in barangays, among other services implemented.