Local government units in Negros Oriental are bracing for the implementation of a windfall of projects under the so-called Assistance to Disadvantaged Municipalities (ADM) which is distinct from that of the Bottom-up Budgeting (BuB) of the previous administration.
BuB is anchored on citizens’ participation and engagement while ADM is to strengthen the local government’s ability to deliver the basic services and not to be too dependent on their internal revenue allotment.
In ADM, the local chief executive identifies the projects to include access roads, potable water, evacuation centers, sanitation facilities, small water impounding projects and other essential needs of their respective constituents.
A stakeholders’ forum was spearheaded Wednesday by the Department of Interior & Local Government in Negros Oriental, headed by provincial director Dennis Quiñones, to evaluate, make an assessment and revisit projects unimplemented or not completed under the BuB.
In rolling out the ADM to the Province, Quiñones stressed it cannot yet do away with the BuB because a lot of them have yet to be implemented while others are ongoing and the rest are slow- moving.
The BuB projects were supposed to be completed last year and that there are projects that need to be completed before projects under ADM can be implemented.
During the assessment, it was discovered that some LGUs lack the required manpower for the projects to be completed with most of them hava a one-man office.
Mabinay Mayor Ernie Uy has confirmed he still has projects funded by the BuB that remain unimplemented in 2014, 2015 and 2016 worth P20 million, under the Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig sa Lahat program.
Mayor Uy said he wanted this project pursued so Mabinayons will have access to sufficient and safe water supply.
Aside from the rehabilitation of the existing water facility, the project also intends to extend safe water service connections to additional three or four barangays in the municipality.
According to Mayor Uy, ADM was introduced following the experience of President Duterte as Davao chief executive who had to identify the projects first, then get approval from civil society. (PNA/jfp/Juancho Gallarde)
