Davide to preside over local gov’t support fund

The Liberal Party’s top man in Cebu province was made the pointman for a multi-million peso government project fund for Central Visayas.

Interior and Local Governments Secretary Jesse Robredo announced the appointment yesterday of lawyer Hilario “Junjun” Davide III as  “special projects coordinator” for Central Visayas of the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF).

It’s the first time such a position has been formed for the fund, which reaches P6.5 billion nationwide.

The appointment comes a month after  LP Cebu City leader Rep. Tomas Osmeña complained to the party president Mar Roxas in a meeting here that  Cebu  was “neglected”  in terms of projects .

The LGSF is intended to aument local government funds  for priority projects in its annual investment plan, like road repairs and water systems.

Davide will oversee implementation of these projects for the region.

“The budget is not yet known. I still have to secure the proposals for the different LGUs,” he said and will study  project proposals from different LGUs to determine the  budget for Central Visayas.

Though the appointment is seen as building Davide’s political stock,  Davide denied it was a maneuver to help his Cebu gubernatorial bid in 2013.

“I don’t see it that way. I’m just there to help. Some local government units (LGU) are not getting the attention of other agencies. I will just help facilitate  the project,” Davide told Cebu Daily News.

Davide said he won’t use politics in overseeing the DILG fund.

He said there won’t be any prejudice against LGUs whose officials are not LP members in the  selection of projects be funded by the LGSP.

LGUs that are given the Seal of Good Housekeeping qualify to receive the fund, according to the DILG website.

Earlier in the day, Robredo met with  regional heads of departments  of agriculture, interior and local government, public works and the  Mactan Cebu International Airport.

The meeting in the DILG-7 office yesterday afternoon was also attended by Osmeña  and Raul del Mar, who represented his daughter Rep. Cutie del Mar.

“The President directed us to focus on work rather than politics.We are just doing as directed,” Robredo said.

Robredo also said  LP would welcome Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale of Bakud party as  Davide’s running-mate if she accepts the offer.   Davide said there’s  progress in his “talks” with Magpale for a teamup but gave no details. /Candeze R. Mongaya, Reporter