Maasin City gets P20 Million LGSF from DILG

By BONG PEDALINO, PIA Southern Leyte
January 10, 2012

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte  –  The city local government unit here was a recipient of the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in the amount of P20 Million.

The grant was an incentive given out of the many awards, citations, and recognitions the city LGU garnered, a record feat which the DILG duly considered, said City Mayor Maloney Samaco during the city-paid radio program this morning.

In a follow-up phone interview by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Samaco said the DILG-led LGSF which the city was privileged to have received was also in compliance of the full disclosure policy of the agency.

This also showed that the city succeeded in clinching the Seal of Good Housekeeping as part of the full disclosure policy, Samaco added.

On Friday, City Councilor Rene Hatayna told PIA the P20 Million grant can do much to cushion the impact of the expected decreased Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) share for this year, 2012, which was earlier estimated at around P 47 Million.

Hatayna said the city had submitted proposals as required on what project or program was intended for the LGSF, but he was unable to provide some details.

Samaco gave a few specifics, saying that among the proposals submitted on deadline last week, January 4, were improvements of the Maasin Commercial Complex, roads, bridges, and a new slaughterhouse slated to be constructed around barangay Dongon-Bato I area.

Some procedural requirements to avail of the LGSF are still forthcoming, but nevertheless Samaco was optimistic the projects as stated and approved can be implemented within this year.