The Department of the Interior and Local Government cautioned the local government units (LGUs) of the Cordillera Administrative Region (DILG-CAR) against unscrupulous groups claiming to be agents of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
This, after the DILG received reports that those posing as DBM agents are demanding fees or other favors in exchange for expediting access to the Local Government Support Fund-Financial Assistance to Local Government Units (LGSF-FALGU) and other national government funding process.
“We are urging our local governments to avoid dealing with any fixer, scammer, or third-party entity and instead direct their letter requests to the Office of the Secretary of DBM," DILG-CAR Regional Director Araceli San Jose said.
Local roads, bridges, public markets, slaughterhouses, multi-purpose buildings/halls, multi-purpose pavements, drainage canals, sea wall/river wall, water system projects including level 1 stand-alone water points, evacuation centers, public parks, fish ports, and post-harvest facilities are among the infrastructure and other projects covered by LGSF-FALGU.
"To our LGUs and the public, let us all be cautious and vigilant of such schemes and avoid getting involved with these groups or giving monetary considerations to them as some are even posing as government officials," she warned.
San Jose also asked the DILG field offices to issue the necessary guidance and advisories to aid the LGUs from falling prey to the nefarious activities of these corrupt ways of these groups.
Earlier, the DBM said it had received reports that "third parties or fixers" have attempted to handle fund requests of barangays in exchange for P200,000 if the fund request is granted.
"Our City/municipal Local Government Operations Officers (C/MLGOOs) are directed to coordinate with the LGUs to prevent the recurrence of such incidents and will report them to the appropriate authorities," San Jose noted. (Chito A. Chavez)