BAGUIO CITY — Social Welfare Undersecretary for Luzon Affairs Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso has urged local chief executives in the Cordillera Administrative Region to speed up the submission of their priority projects and programs to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Moreno, who was the keynote speaker at the LGU forum here Tuesday, said the DSWD still has enough funds for such priority projects as like the setting up of barangay clinics, health centers, drugstores, and assistance for the barangay health workers.
He, however, said the department provides funds on a first-come, first-served basis.
He urged local government units (LGUs), as well as the community, to take immediate action and identify their priority projects before the other regions get all the remaining funds.
“I’m calling the attention of the LGUs, especially the community, to immediately look and identify their priority projects so that the agency can allot funds,” Moreno said.
He said the department has already spent at least PHP28 billion for different projects, but has a few more billions to shell out.
“The government has allotted these funds to address the problems of the community,” he said.
In an interview with the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Wednesday, DSWD-Cordillera Director Janet Armas said at least 102 community-driven projects in the region have not received funding.
“These projects were identified during our Participatory Situation Map Analysis,” Armas explained. “We are asking them to finish the Community Empowerment Activity Cycle process so that we can accept their proposals for them to avail of the grants for their projects.”
The forum was attended by local chief executives in Cordillera, who expressed gratitude to the DSWD and Moreno for their continued support and assistance. **Dionisio Dennis Jr./ PNA
