Kalinga PLGU urges agencies to process titling of donated lots

By Peter A. Balocnit

TABUK CITY, Kalinga - - Heeding the call of President Aquino to rationalize public expenditure, the provincial government here is urging agencies renting offices to process the titling of their donated lots at the government reservation center and to eventually put up their own buildings.

Those that have not availed during the distribution of lots in the past are also enjoined to also submit their request for the proper issuance of deed of donation.

During the government lot reservations committee meeting of the SangguniangPanlalawigan held recently, Board members Gelacio Bongngat and Francis Paclay told national agency-heads to coordinate with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for the conduct of survey.

A number of national agencies including the Philippine Information Agency were already given lots.

Likewise, agencies that have no reserved lots to also facilitate the submission of requests to the SP for the resolution of an enabling law. Upon approval by the local chief executive, a corresponding deed of donation shall be issued for basis of DENR to conduct immediate survey.

Several agencies are renting offices which is a burden on the part of government, the reason why the provincial government has established a government center within the Capitol area at Hilltop, Bulanao, this city, and wants all offices to hold office there.

Presently, one half of government agencies are holding office within the commercial and residential areas of Dagupan and Bulanao.

“We can not act without your request,” Bongngat told heads of agencies who attended the meeting, stressing that it is the desire of the provincial government that all agencies be given lots and establish their respective offices so that government operation and delivery of public service will be centralized.

Paclay, who is the committee chairman on government reservations, said “we want to create a ‘one-stop-shop’ transaction and delivery of public service so that the public clientele will not be given a round-around going up and down to seek government service and for the government to save on rent.

To maximize utilization of idle government properties, the provincial government and the Office of the Congressman renovated part of the old and abandoned provincial hospital to accommodate other offices.

Holding office in the said building at present are the Congressional District Office, Provincial Action Center, Post Office, Armed Forces of the Philippines Engineering Battalion, Philippine Medical Association and the Technical Department of the Provincial Health Services.