To provide safe and clean water to residents of Purok 5, Barangay Caputian in Malalag town, the Provincial Government of Davao del Sur turned over a brand-new water supply facility which was spearheaded by Governor Douglas Cagas on March 19, 2021. This according to a Facebook post from the official facebook page of the Provincial Government of Davao del Sur.

According to the Facebook post, the construction of a water system project worth P2,000,000.00 was funded by the DBM-Local Government Support Fund-Financial Assistance to LGUs, which was implemented by the Provincial Government of Davao del Sur under the Cagas Administration.

Present during the event were Board Member Atty. Carmelo Delos Cientos III, Malalag Mayor Peter Paul Valentin, Malalag Deputy Governor Ligaya Pascua Gealon, Magsaysay Deputy Governor Jhun Reyes, municipal councilors, barangay officials headed by Caputian Barangay Captain Evelyn Lopez, IP members led by Tribal Chieftain Datu Apolonio Pandoy, PPDO staff headed by Engineer Jupiter Labajo, and residents around the area.

Barangay Captain Lopez, who now has full responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the water system facility, formally accepted the ceremonial key.

Meanwhile, Tribal Chieftain Datu Pandoy thanked the Cagas Administration for its help and support to the people of Brgy. Caputian, Malalag. "Years have passed in Brgy. Caputian, and no projects similar to this portable water system project have ever happened. We, the indigenous people living here, are very grateful to Governor Cagas for giving us this project that seemed impossible at the time, but he fulfilled our wishes in good time," he said.

Under Special Provision (SP) No. 3 of the Local Government Support Fund - Financial Assistance (LGSF-FA) to Local Government Units (LGUs) in Republic Act (RA) No. 11518 or the FY 2021 General Appropriations Act (GAA), funds are being appropriated for financial assistance to LGUs to support the following priority programs and projects:

• Construction, concreting, rehabilitation, repair or improvement of any of the following: (a) local roads and/or bridges; (b) public markets; (c) slaughterhouses; (d) multi-purpose buildings/halls; (e) multi-purpose pavements; (f) drainage canals; (g) sea wall/river wall; (h) water system projects including level 1 stand-alone water points; (i) evacuation centers; (j) public parks; (k) fish ports; and (I) post-harvest facilities composed of ice plant and cold storage facilities;
• Purchase of ambulance, trucks, mini dump trucks, multi-purpose vehicles, or multicabs;
• Street lighting or barangay electrification;
• Purchase of medical equipment;
• Financial assistance for health and sports program;
• Assistance programs and projects for education, health and social protection in light of the COVID-19 pandemic; and
• Assistance to indigent individuals in any of the following forms: (a) medical; (b) burial; (c) transportation; (d) food assistance; (e) cash for work; and (f) educational assistance.

RA 11518 further states that in the disbursement and utilization of the Fund, priority shall be given to assistance programs and projects for education, health and social protection in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as but not limited to: (i) the distribution of learning modules; (ii) COVID-19 health response; and (iii) livelihood and employment assistance.

The President, in his Veto Message to the FY 2021 GAA, placed the LGSF-FA to LGUs under conditional implementation to subject it to the guidelines to be issued by the DBM. Further, in the implementation of LGSF-FA to LGUs, priority must be given to infrastructure projects consistent with the Build, Build, Build Program of the National Government.

/AET

Source:

• Provincial Government of Davao del Sure Official Facebook Page

·         DBM Local Budget Circular No. 131