Of the 582 projects mostly for infrastructures approved from 2011 and 2012 funded by the 20% Development Fund to the combined sum of P412 million, only 134 have already been completed while 106 are ongoing with 335 more projects still to be implemented.
The Provincial Development Council, through their various monitoring desks in the three districts, reported that in 2011, of the 273 projects approved totaling P230 million, only 103 were completed, 59 remain ongoing, and 108 are yet to be implemented.
For the current year, 309 projects worth P182 million were identified and approved but so far only 31 were implemented, 47 are ongoing and 227 remain unimplemented.
The Governor has already instructed the Provincial Engineer to fast track its implementation pursuant to his desire to inaugurate new projects every week. Several mayors protested the alleged practice of the Provincial Engineer of bypassing them when implementing projects, an accusation denied by the latter.
Former Governor Jose Petit Baldado called upon the Governor to come up with a set of criteria as a basis in the fair distribution of projects to avoid complaints of favoritism and cases when mayors have to resort to boycotts just so that their sentiments are heard.
Meanwhile, Congressman Pryde Henry Teves expressed relief that the Governor has not included in the proposed budget any intelligence funds for the office of the latter. The solon, who has been pushing to include in his proposed Freedom of Information bill in the Houe of Representatives a provision that would cover the auditing of intelligence funds to enhance transparency.
Teves said that the Governor’s decision to let go of the intelligence fund, which is to be used solely at the discretion of the Governor without being subjected to regular audit is refreshing. (by Dems Demecillo)
