DILG grants P8.5M for anti-poverty projects in Bataan

DINALUPIHAN, Bataan, May 28 (PIA) – Indigenous communities up in the hilly parts of the province will finally have clean and potable supply of water after Interior and Local Government Sec. Mar Roxas handed over P8.5 million in checks to various municipalities for their anti-poverty projects.

 

 

This is part of the Bottom-up Budgeting (BuB) project of the national government which funnels down funds to local government units and civil service organizations for the implementation of projects needed by their rural communities.  

 

In a simple meet and greet with Aetas in Brgy. Payangan of this town last May 7, Roxas gave the checks, which will benefit five municipalities, to town mayors in the presence of Governor Albert Garcia and Vice Gov. Efren Pascual Jr.  

 

Dinalupihan Mayor Gila Garcia received P2.5 million for construction of an evacuation center in the perennially flooded town; Abucay Mayor Ana Santiago got P500,000 each for water and flood control projects; and Bagac Mayor Ramil Del Rosario received P1.4 million for water project in his mountainous town.

 

Samal Mayor Gene Malibiran-Dela Fuente received P2.5 million also for construction of an evacuation center, and Pilar town got P4 million for water supply project.

 

“Today, I felt fulfilled and pleased that in the end of all the work, in the end of all the processes and various obstacles, there is a family, there is a community, who, upon opening a faucet, there is safe water which will not run out,” said Roxas who cupped spring water with Aeta children. 

 

Roxas visited the communal faucet water project in Brgy. Payangan which was implemented under the Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig Para sa Lahat (SALINTUBIG) program, from which 270 families, including 30 Aeta families living in the community, now get their drinking water.

 

Governor Garcia said the end result of having water for rural communities after long bureaucratic processes was inspiring.

 

“It’s inspiring that after all the paperwork in Manila, you can now see the actual project making a difference in the lives of the people,” said Garcia. (JMG/PIA 3, Bataan)