Sen. Pia sets fund for Dagupan clean-up drive
EFFORTS TO clean and de-clog rivers and creeks in Dagupan City received a boost from Senator Pia S. Cayetano who set aside P500,000 from her Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) as a contribution to the city’s work program Dagupan under a food-for-work scheme.
Acting-Mayor Belen Fernandez received notice of the allotment from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Fernandez said since the allotment is not limited to the cleaning of rivers and creeks, she has authorized that P100,000 of the total amount be used for the putting up of a material recovery facility (MRF) in Barangay Bonuan Boquig.
The vice mayor noted that Bonuan Boquig is among the few barangays in Dagupan still without an MRF and its residents are not yet implementing waste segregation at source like other villages in the city.
At the same time, Fernandez has instructed Bonuan Boquig’s barangay officials to strictly enforce waste segregation at individual homes.
The remaining outlay from Cayetano will be used for the purchase of food stuff such as rice, which will be given as compensation for voluntary work assistance provided by community residents in cleaning and de-clogging their own creeks and rivers.
The food-for-work program will be implemented by Barangays Bonuan Gueset, Pantal, Poblacion Oeste, Tapuac, Lucao, Herrero Perez, Mayombo, Caranglaan and Bacayao Norte under the supervision of their barangay chairmen.
City Engineer Virginia Rosario said the cleaning is intended to prevent flooding and minimize the breeding places of dengue-carrying mosquitoes.
Lined-up for de-clogging under the program are the Look Creek, Santiago Creek, Tulao River, Herrero Perez Creek and Mayombo Creek whose waters all lead to Pantal River before emptying into the Calmay River.
WHERE’S THE FUND?
Meanwhile, Fernandez lamented the inability of the City Treasurer’s Office to release the P3.1 million outlay for the barangays, at P100,000 per barangay, approved earlier by the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) for the purchase of garbage receptacle attached to motorcycles, called “garong“.
She learned from City Treasurer Romelita Alcantara that not a single barangay has been given a share of the appropriation to date due to lack of funds.
“This is quite surprising because when we approved the supplemental budget providing for the P3.1 million outlay on April 27 before I left for the United States, there was a certification from the treasury and budget offices that funds were available,” she said.
Alcantara explained that they ran out of funds because priority was given to the disbursement of the half-year bonuses of the city employees in the amount of some P4 million last week.
The treasurer added that the money for the barangays will be released as soon as funds are available.
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