The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of the province of Bohol, led by Vice Governor Rene Lopez Relampagos, approved the resolution endorsing various development projects for funding, a press release from the august body said.
During the SP’s regular session held last June 15, 2021, the august body unanimously approved the proposal to endorse to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) the funding of priority initiatives or projects totalling to around P 4.4 billion.
The said amount will be taken from the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) under the 2021 General Appropriations Act, which is being managed by the DBM, Relampagos said in a radio interview on June 16, 2021 over OPEN FORUM radio program hosted by The Bohol Tribune’s managing editor Ardy Araneta-Batoy.
The amount will cover 56 priority projects in the 2021 investment plan of the province which is deemed important “to sustain the socio-economic development” of Bohol, the SP press release adds.
Following the endorsement of the Provincial Development Council (PDC), headed by Gov. Arthur Yap, as embodied in PDC Execom Resolution No. 55-2021, the SP lengthily discussed the projects covered in the proposal during the presiding officer’s time of the pre-session meeting hours before the regular session last June 15, 2021.
Moreover, Relampagos, who served three years as Representative of the First Congressional District of Bohol, provided better context to the said proposal from the PDC.
While the long list of projects and the subsequent funding it requires are likened to a “wish list”, Relampagos quipped that this is a good step towards sustaining the momentum of Bohol’s development.
Also tackled in the pre-session meeting was another endorsement from the PDC Executive Committee (Execom) contained in Resolution No. 54-2021, requesting for the addition of nearly P1.5 billion to the Supplemental Investment Program (SIP) of the Provincial Government of Bohol for 2021.
Under the endorsement are 35 different development projects and priority initiatives aimed to support agricultural initiatives, improve infrastructure, provide medical care, enhance government facilities, and foster good local governance.
In a separate statement, Relampagos assures the public that the SP and the entire Provincial Government of Bohol are looking into ways to fast track both the recovery and the growth of the province even in the midst of the threats of the pandemic.
“We have sworn to have your best interest at mind. The COVID-19 pandemic might have slowed us down for a while but we are tirelessly working hard to make sure that we are able to assist sectors greatly affected by the pandemic and continuously provide for the people,” Relampagos said in a statement.