SADANGA, MOUNTIAN PROVINCE– The vested interests of one or few negate the implementation of multi-million projects in Sadanga, Mountain Province.
On August 10, 2017, the Office of the Provincial Treasurer returned the amount of Php 9,100,151.63/100 to the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) which is intended for the construction of the Sacasacan – Belwang Farm-to-market Road, Sadanga, Mountain Province.
The said fund is part of the P25.40 million downloaded to the Municipal Government of Sadanga through a Sub-Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) entered into between the past municipal and provincial officials out of P 34.50 million earmarked for the municipality.
The immediate return of unutilized fund is in compliance with the adverse decision of the Supreme Court on the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) as unconstitutional.
Gov. Bonifacio C. Lacwasan Jr. requested the OPAPP for additional time frame to complete the remaining on-going projects in the municipality but unfortunately it was denied by the OPAPP due to time constraint on its liquidation.
“We regret to inform you that we will not be able to grant your request and may we respectfully request for the immediate refund of all unused funds and savings to the national treasury through our office for recording,” wrote by Mr. Ronald I. Flores, OPAPP Undersecretary for Support Services and PAMANA National Program Manager.
The governor is baffled on why the municipal government of Sadanga was not able to complete the on-going project considering the span of time allotted and the nature of the work which is merely the opening of a road. However, he is optimistic that their request for realignment of the same shall be considered by the funding agency.
According to Mr. Anthony Pandosen, one of the governor’s executive assistants, the immediate liquidation of the said unused fund is necessary so as not to hamper the release of another fund worth P50 million which is expected to be downloaded to the provincial government before the end of the month.
The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) through its Agrarian Infrastructure Support Project (ARISP II), a special program of the agency, allotted a P10 million fund for the concreting of the Ampawilen-Opucan FMR but due to road right of way issues, the condition of the road remains a problem.
Another project that has been involved in a controversy is the construction of a tramline to connect Barangay Betwagan to the road. Allegedly, the contactor got the mobilization fund but the work stopped due to adverse claims of local residents. The project, under the post harvest facilities program of the Department of Agriculture is now in limbo.
Despite the return of the funds for the construction of the Sacasacan- Belwang Road, Governor Lacwasan expressed his appreciation and gratitude to the OPAPP for the continuing support and intervention by extending development to conflict and vulnerable areas like Mountain Province.** Alfred Macalling
