ANAO, TARLAC – "Gone are the days when fetching water for daily use was a heavy task." This was Anao Mayor Betty Lacbayan's remark during the inauguration of the town's two (2) water tank projects under the Assistance to Disadvantaged Municipalities (ADM) program of the DILG on March 14, in time for the opening celebration of the town's fiesta.
The construction of the water projects located in Brgy. Bantog and San Francisco East are regarded as a blessing as they are poised to cater nearby areas including barangays Sinense, Baguidoc, Casili, and Suaverdez.
DILG Tarlac Provincial Director Belina Herman said Regional Director Julie Daquioag is grateful to local government units for their appreciation of these projects thru the DILG.
She explained that the LGU's prioritization of these kinds of projects is responsive to DILG's advocacy to produce B.E.S. T. LGUs, which stands for Business-friendly and Competitive; Environment-protective, climate change-adaptive and resilient; Socially-protective and safe; and Transparent, Participative, and Accountable Local Governments. All these, in pursuit of portraying the values, Matino, Mahusay, at Maaasahan (upright, excellent, and reliable).
PD Herman also announced that by end of 2018, all 2017 ADM projects are expected to be completed while the 2018 AM funds will be downloaded soon.
In response, Mayor Lacbayan thanked the DILG, members of the civil society, barangay officials, and beneficiaries for the unrelenting support they extended to the municipality.
"if not for the Bottom-up Budgeting (BuB) and ADM, it would have been impossible for us to make these projects," she said.
The ADM project in Barangay Bantog was constructed on a land donated by barangay councilors Jackson and George Carbonel. With the completion of these additional water tanks, all 18 barangays will now be given access to potable water.
To date, Anao already has six (6) completed water projects catered by DILG funds and programs like the Performance Challenge Fund (PCF) and the BuB.
