DIGOS CITY, Davao del Sur, Philippines?Some village officials in Davao del Sur have cried foul over the alleged withdrawal of projects funded by the provincial government in their villages after they allegedly refused to join the Nacionalista Party (NP).

The province?s governor, Douglas Cagas, is one of dozens of loyal allies of President Macapagal-Arroyo who joined the NP to support Sen. Manuel Villar?s presidential ambition.

Rose Johnson, village chair of North Lamidan in Don Marcelino town, said a gymnasium supposed to be built in her village was withdrawn by Cagas after she refused to take her oath as an NP member.

She said the gymnasium was now being put up in South Lamidan, chaired by her niece, Emily Johnson, who agreed to join the NP.

?Her reason was she had taken her oath so that the gymnasium will be given to their village,? Johnson said.

Deogracio Mamites, village chair of Basiawan, Sta. Maria, said a gymnasium funded by the provincial government was also supposed to be constructed in his village.

But he said it did not push through because of his political differences with Cagas.

Reached by phone Thursday, Cagas admitted that he did not push through with the construction of the gymnasium in North Lamidan because the village chair does not support his administration.

He said he decided to give it to another barangay, whose chief was supportive of his program.

In the case of Basiawan village in Sta. Maria, Cagas said Mamites had declined the proposed gymnasium because another politician promised to put one in the village.

?It is still being constructed in Basiawan but on a donated lot instead,? Cagas said.

He denied allegations that those who did not join the NP were removed from the gymnasium project list.

?For example, the Basiawan gymnasium was offered to Mamites long before village chiefs took their oath under the NP during the recent visit of Senator Manuel Villar,? Cagas said.

Cagas said he was not forcing village chiefs to become members of the NP.