The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) today urged local government units (LGUs) to avail of the P13.586 billion Local Government Support Fund-Financial Assistance to Local Government Units (LGSF-FALGUs) for their local infrastructure and development projects and submit the documentary requirements until June 30, 2021.
“Nakalaan talaga para sa inyo ang pondong ito, kaya samantalahin ninyo ang pagkakataon para masimulan ninyo ang papapatupad ng mahahalagang proyekto at pagbangon ng ekonomiya sa inyong mga lugar,” said DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año.
Año said only 319 LGUs have been allocated with funding of their FALGU projects so far, amounting to P2.93 billion, which accounts for 22% of the program fund for the year.
He emphasized that provincial governors, cities, and municipalities with limited internal revenue allotment (IRA) can utilize the LGSF-FALGU funds for the delivery of priority programs and projects listed in their Local Development Investment Program (LDIPs).
Among the infrastructure and other projects covered under LGSF-FALGU are local roads and/or bridges, public markets, slaughterhouses, multi-purpose buildings/halls, multi-purpose pavements, drainage canals, sea wall/river wall, water system projects including level 1 stand-alone water points, evacuation centers, public parks, fish ports, and post-harvest facilities composed of ice plant and cold storage facilities.
Considering the public health emergency situation, Año said the LGSF-FALGU funds can also be used to purchase ambulance, trucks, mini dump trucks, multi-purpose vehicles, or multi-cabs; street lighting or barangay electrification; medical equipment, financial assistance for health and sports programs; assistance programs and projects for education, health, and social protection in light of the COVID-19 pandemic; and assistance to indigent individuals for medical, burial, transportation, food assistance, cash for work, and educational needs.
Handled by the Department’s Office of Project Development Services (OPDS), LGSF-FALGU may be availed by LGUs from the 16 regions except the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Fund release requirements
To avail of the funds, the DILG chief said local chief executives must submit a letter of request specifying the project title, location, and fund allocation addressed to the Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
If the request covers two or more programs and/or projects, they will be stated in order of the priorities of the LGU in the request letter.
The DILG regional offices will conduct the preliminary evaluation of requests and then forward to the DBM central office through the OSEC Technical Review Unit (TRU), all requests, including the result of the preliminary evaluation.
The DBM will then determine compliance with the requirements. The DILG central office will evaluate requests directly submitted, and conduct final evaluation of the requests forwarded by the DBM and recommend the necessary action on submitted requests.
The DILG Secretary said that LGUs that have received LGSF-FALGU funds from 2016-2020 must submit their reports on fund utilization and status of program/project implementation. In case of unobligated balances, concerned LGUs must present a certification and proof of reversion to verify that the balances have already been returned to the national treasury.
LGSF-FALGU is one of the priority thrusts of the Duterte administration consistent with the Build, Build, Build Program. (DILG) -jlo
