Local government units from different parts of the country are enjoying the Department of Interior and Local Government's (DILG) Support for the Barangay Development Program (SBDP) as it reaches isolated barangays and gives them hope for the future.
The SBDP is among the programs implemented under Executive Order No. 70 and is part of the government's efforts to provide much-needed infrastructure and social services to geographically isolated barangays.
During DILG sa Breaktime last Wednesday, three mayors from different municipalities shared how they augmented the funds given by the national government's Local Government to Support Fund.
Nueva Ecija Mayor Rogelio "Ogie" Abad acknowledged how SBDP benefited his fellow Nueva Ecijano.
Abad said they used the fund for the construction of farm-to-market roads in the six barangays and a portable water system.
The mayor proudly shared that the level 2 portable water system they made later was upgraded to level 3.
"Napakalaking tulong po kagaya po nito, dati dati po ang ating komunidad pag panahon ng summer nag-iigib pa sa ilog—nag-uupa pa ng 50–100 pesos isasakay sa tractor o sa tricycle drum-drum na kinakarga. Nung dumating po ang SBDP project napakalaking tulong po," said Abad.
Abad noted that the beneficiaries of the water system created an organization to manage the latter.
"Yung samahan po na'yon ay napakalaking tulong po nakaipon na po sila within 1 year and a half. Ang pondo na po nila humigit kumulang na 140,000," the mayor said, noting that the fund will be allocated for a refilling station, which would be a big help for the residents.
Also sharing their project in their LGU, Calbayog City Samar Mayor Raymund C. Uy said that they allocated SBDP's assistance to the construction of roads in five barangays and two school buildings.
"Sa five barangays po, isa nalang di natatapos na project is yung school building kasi po 3 hours yung lakad papunta sa barangay. The rest of the project is tapos na po siya and nagagamit na ng barangay," Uy said.
Aside from the farm-to-market road project, Uy said they also provided solar lights to the barangay.
Uy noted that they now easily implemented the project following the recent surrender of new people's army in Samar.
"Doon po sa mga nagbalik-loob, last year mayroon tayong 37, and this year mayroong nagbalik-loob na 31. So yung barangay po ngayon pwede nang pumasok kahit sinong nagtitinda kasi wala nang impluwensya doon sa mga makakaaliwang grupo," he stressed.
Meanwhile, Mayor Jonathan Mahimpit of the North President Roxas, Cotabato, talked about their project of portable water system level 3, road and street light projects.
"Yung water system na ngaon ay level 3 na, meaning to say, Dati rati sa may pond lang ngayon ay directa na sakanilang mga pamamahay," Mahimpit said.
"Isa rin sa mga nabigyan ng priority is yung pagpapasemento ng klasada. Alam po natin na malaking tulong lalo na sa mga magsasaka para mapdali yung paglalabas ng produkto galing sa kanilang mga pananim," he furthered.
In the end, the three municipalities expressed their gratitude to the national government and DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos for his unwavering support for LGUs.
"Hinihikayat po namin sa ating mga mamamayan hindi lang po dito sa bayan ng Caranglan na pangalagaan po ang mga programa at ingatan at gamitin ng wasto ang mga programa at proyekto na inilaan ng ating national government para po sa ikauunlad ng ating bayan," Nueva Ecia Mayor Abad remarked.
