P758M for Grassroots Participatory Projects in CL

The national government has allotted this 2014 around P758 million for funding of various projects in Central Luzon under the Grassroots Participatory Planning and Budgeting Process (GB) formerly known as Bottom-Up Process in Planning and Budgeting.

“GB seeks to make the national budget more responsive to local needs, provide incentives for local good governance, strengthen the devolution of basic services delivery, create a conducive environment for people’s participation, and generate demand for good governance at the local level,” DILG Regional Director Florida Dijan explained.

“The program consists of eight steps namely conduct of civil society assemblies whose main agenda is to elect Local Poverty Reduction Action Team (PRAT) members and conduct of poverty situation analysis; holding of local poverty reduction planning workshops; submission of list of priority projects and other supporting documents to DILG; consolidation of list of projects by DILG Regional Office and submission to the National Anti-Poverty Commission and distribution to Regional PRAT members; adoption of final list of priority projects by local Sanggunian; integration into the national budget; and provision of funding for LGU counterpart in local budget,” Dijan added.

For 2014, over P20 billion has been allotted for GB projects covering 1,226 towns and cities of which 52 are in Central Luzon.

Covered by the project are Baler, Casiguran, Dilasag and Dingalan in Aurora; Hermosa, Morong and Orani in Bataan; Bocaue, Dona Remedios Trinidad, Hagonoy, Marilao, Meycauayan and Norzagaray in Bulacan; and Apalit, Candaba, Guagua, Lubao, Macabebe, Masantol, Mexico, City of San Fernando, San Luis, San Simon and Sasmuan in Pampanga.

Also included are Aliaga, Bongabon, Carranglan, Cuyapo, Gabaldon, General Natividad, Guimba, Laur, Licab, Llanera, Lupao, Science City of Munoz, Pantabangan, Quezon, Sto. Domingo, Talugutug and Zaragoza in Nueva Ecija; Concepcion, La Paz, Mayantoc, San Jose, Sta. Ignacia, Tarlac City, and Victoria in Tarlac; and Olongapo City, Palauig, Sta. Cruz and Subic in Zambales. (CLJD-PIA 3)