Brgy projects to top 2012 LDF

AID to barangays, road and drainage improvement projects and the development of urban poor housing sites would be given priority in next year’s Local Development Fund (LDF) of P870.85 million, which is part of the P5.2-billion 2012 budget.

“We cannot prioritize these items because these have long been identified and are needed by the barangays,” said Councilor Margot Osmeña, the council’s budget committee chairperson.

The P400-million aid to barangays would be spent on infrastructure projects.

Barangay Guadalupe, one of the city’s biggest barangays, would get the biggest share of P12.3 million followed by barangays Lahug with P9.4 million, Tisa with P8.9 million, Labangon with P8.7 million, Basak San Nicolas and Mabolo with P8.6 million each and Mambaling with P8.4 million.

The mountain barangays of Lusaran and Paril are expected to get P13.2 million, the biggest share of the P114.5-million worth of road improvement projects included in the LDF.

Barangays Taptap and Busay will get P10-million worth of improvement projects each.

Barangay Buot-Taup will have a new bridge worth P8 million from the P70-million appropriation for new bridges and highways.

While the council agreed to include in the LDF a lump sum appropriation of P32 million for the construction and the improvement of bridges, they would require prior council approval on the location and implementation of the project.

The council also appropriated P25 million from the LDF for the development of urban poor housing sites located in barangays Budlaan, Busay, Pit-os, San Jose, Lorega, Labangon and Tisa. Chief of REporters Doris C. Bongcac