LGUs receive equal treatment in gov’t fund allocation – Palace

Detailed summary

The Philippine News Agency is a web-based newswire service of the Philippine government under the supervision of the News and Information Bureau (NIB) of the Presidential…

MANILA – Malacañang on Friday said local government units (LGUs) are receiving fair and equal treatment in the allocation of post-disaster rehabilitation funds under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

“Ramdam mismo ng mga liderato ng LGUs kung paano pantay-pantay ang pagtingin ng Pangulo sa bawat rehiyon, sa bawat probinsiya, sa bawat barangay, pantay-pantay (LGU leaderships can feel how the President treats every region, every province, every village equally),” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing.

Castro made the statement following the turnover of PHP8.645 billion worth of assistance under the Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Assistance Program (DRRAP) to 306 disaster-affected LGUs during a ceremony at Malacañan Palace in Manila on Thursday.

Marcos led the turnover of funds to enable local governments to implement rehabilitation and reconstruction projects for their affected communities.

Castro cited the positive response of various local officials, including Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo who welcomed the national government’s assistance.

She said LGUs appreciate the President’s directive to streamline processes to expedite the release of DRRAP funds.

She pointed to Robredo’s acknowledgment that the faster release of funds was a big help to Naga City, particularly in addressing its longstanding flooding problems through improvements in its drainage systems.

Castro said Marcos’ directive is to ensure that government assistance reaches its intended beneficiaries without political considerations.

“So, ang anumang pagbibigay tulong at ayuda ng national government, ng Pangulo sa LGUs, ito ay nararapat lamang at hindi na dapat na pinupulitika ng iba (any assistance extended by the national government and the President to LGUs is only proper and should not be politicized by others),” she said.

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