Projects for Sagada war- torn areas ‘double-funded’

By Gina Dizon

SAGADA,Mountain Province – Government projects for ‘war-torn’ areas of this tourist town were recently found out to have been “double-funded.”  

Sagada’s P15 million Payapa at MasaganangPamayanan (Pamana) project grant from the program of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) was scheduled for bidding this September.

But  the Sangguniang Bayan has yet to issue a resolution endorsing realignment of the grant to separate projects following “double funding” the municipal government  received from other offices.

OPAPP granted a P15 million budget for Sagada’sTanulong- Madongo farm to market road as earlier requested by six northern barangay officials backed by other local government officials of the town.

Pamana funds under the OPAPP program on peace and development are meant for socio-economic progress of conflict-torn areas in the country.

The northern barangays of Sagada had been the scene of encounters between government military and police elements and New People’s Army guerrillas.

Sagada was declared a “peace zone” by officials and residents but over the years, government and NPA units had been engaged in encounters in the town.

For same project, the local government unit was granted P5 million from congressional funds and another P5 million from the provincial government following request of officials of northern barangays of this town.

This led the municipal executive officers and the implementing Department of Agriculture to identify  P5 million from the Pamana fund to remain for the Tanulong-Madongo road, and the remaining P10 million for other farm to market roads, it was learned.

The other FMRs where the P10 million shall be programmed are P3 million for the Anga-ang to Angtin FMR in barangay Madongo, P3.5 million for the Kanip-awan FMR from Batalao to Suyo, and the P3.5 million Ato-Engan FMR rehabilitation.

Sangguniang Bayan councillor Jane Bawing said the SB has yet to issue a resolution favoring the realignment of the fund  to identified sites pending study on specific areas where said fund shall be allotted and in reference to the plan of the municipal planning and development office.   

Department of Agriculture regional director Dr Marilyn Sta Catalina said realignment of the funds is based on two requirements as provided in OPAPP guidelines.

One, that the fund shall be reprogrammed in the same conflict area and that there is a resolution from the Regional Peace and Order Council endorsing said realignment.

She said the bidding of the projects was scheduled Sept. 16.

The RPOC forwarded its favorable resolution for said realignment, Sta Catalina said.  

Asked if the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture has approved the realignment, Sta Catalina said she had already spoken to the Secretary.