P50-M Bontoc flood control project unpaid
>> Wednesday, October 20, 2021
By Gina
Dizon
BONTOC, Mountain Province — A P50 million
flood control project here already 90% completed awaits release of payment.
Already included in the regular budget of the Mountain Province District Engineering Office (MPDEO) for 2020, the P50 million is part of some P300 million infrastructure projects included in the ‘for later release’ (FLR) funds, MPDEO District Engineer Januario Garde said.
The P300 million is part of the national government’s P192 billion FLR as lawmakers continue to question the delay of the release of funds.
Whether the P50 million payment is available this year remains a question.
The P50 million flood control project with a stretch of 600 meters along the banks of the Chico River protects ricefields here at Sitio Agcoyo from getting washed away by waters along the Chico River especially when heavy rains come.
While such is the case, affected rice field owners demanded some changes in the project design and recently settled in a recent coordination meeting between and among some disgruntled ricefield owners, the project contractor and field personnel of MPDEO.
It’s up to Malacanang now to say when to release payment of the P50 million projects already implemented, Garde said.
Good if payment is released this year 2021, but if not then the project cost shall be included in the budget for 2022, Garde added.
Earlier, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said that some P135 billion worth of infrastructure projects would no longer be funded in 2020 as these had become part of the anti-coronavirus responds funds.
Whether the P50 million flood control project is included in the anti-Covid-19 response funds is not known.
This as news reports say Cagayan de Oro City 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez urged the Dept. of Budget and Management (DBM) to stop classifying projects as FLRs in the future.
Rodriguez said the Constitution prohibits double appropriations.What has been appropriated in 2020 cannot be transferred to 2021.
Already included in the regular budget of the Mountain Province District Engineering Office (MPDEO) for 2020, the P50 million is part of some P300 million infrastructure projects included in the ‘for later release’ (FLR) funds, MPDEO District Engineer Januario Garde said.
The P300 million is part of the national government’s P192 billion FLR as lawmakers continue to question the delay of the release of funds.
Whether the P50 million payment is available this year remains a question.
The P50 million flood control project with a stretch of 600 meters along the banks of the Chico River protects ricefields here at Sitio Agcoyo from getting washed away by waters along the Chico River especially when heavy rains come.
While such is the case, affected rice field owners demanded some changes in the project design and recently settled in a recent coordination meeting between and among some disgruntled ricefield owners, the project contractor and field personnel of MPDEO.
It’s up to Malacanang now to say when to release payment of the P50 million projects already implemented, Garde said.
Good if payment is released this year 2021, but if not then the project cost shall be included in the budget for 2022, Garde added.
Earlier, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said that some P135 billion worth of infrastructure projects would no longer be funded in 2020 as these had become part of the anti-coronavirus responds funds.
Whether the P50 million flood control project is included in the anti-Covid-19 response funds is not known.
This as news reports say Cagayan de Oro City 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez urged the Dept. of Budget and Management (DBM) to stop classifying projects as FLRs in the future.
Rodriguez said the Constitution prohibits double appropriations.What has been appropriated in 2020 cannot be transferred to 2021.
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