PANDI, BULACAN, January 11, 2016 – Committing to DILG’s vision of self-reliant local government units (LGUs), Secretary of the Interior and Local Government (SILG) Mel Senen Sarmiento said that allocation for development projects should be utilized for sourcing business of LGUs.
Speaking on the Micro-Medium Rise Building (MMRB) Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) Signing and Groundbreaking Ceremony in Pandi, SILG Sarmiento shared how burgeoning funds for LGUs help make new path for good governance.
“[Local] economy is the most important issue in our country today. There are a lot of un-funded mandates being expected from local governments, so their capacity to generate local source of income is essential and should be strengthened,” SILG Sarmiento said.
SILG described how projects such as MMRB in Pandi exemplify the role of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in furthering the initiatives of local functionaries to innovate ways of raising money for quality life of its constituents.
The 600-square meter MMRB soon to rise in Barangay Mapulang Lupa, Pandi, Bulacan will have 45 units for homeless residents, with additional livelihood training center.
The Municipality has set a partnership between TESDA and DOLE for provision of livelihood trainings. Necessary facilities will also be provided for participating Pandieños.
According to Pandi Mayor Enrico Roque, “bahagi lang ito ng pangarap natin noon. Matapos ang masusing pag-aaral sa proyekto, napagkalooban tayo ng biyaya sa pagpasok ng taong 2016. (…) Hindi lamang bahay kundi tahanan ang ipinagkakaloob natin dito.”
One of the beneficiaries of the MMRB unit is Agustito Menoro, President of Pinagsamang Mamamayang Maralita sa Tabing IIog Association, who shared how hard it is to live near the riverside.
“Hindi ka makatulog kapag may sakuna, hirap na sa tubig, hirap pa sa pagkain,” Menoro said.
In his closing remarks, Mayor Roque thanked the DILG in its support and assistance to the approval of MMRB – from several revisions of the project proposal and now on its groundbreaking ceremony.
“We are grateful that DILG has helped us achieve this money-raising project for the betterment of Pandieños and our LGU as a whole,” Mayor Roque said.
- LGOO II Mariah Amour C. Miranda
