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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Beware of groups demanding money to fund infra projects, DILG warns Cordillera LGUs

Beware of groups demanding money to fund infra projects, DILG warns Cordillera LGUs

Published Aug 14, 2023 03:18 am

At A Glance

  • (DILG-CAR FB PAGE)

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) warned the local government units (LGUs) in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) against unscrupulous groups allegedly demanding money to facilitate the release of funds for various infrastructure projects.

‘’It has come to our attention that there have been reports of individuals falsely presenting themselves as agents or intermediaries, claiming to facilitate access to infrastructure funds allocated for various projects within local government units (LGUs)," DILG-CAR Director Araceli San Jose said.

"We strongly condemn these deceptive practices and fraudulent schemes that exploit the trust and aspirations of our LGUs in pursuing development and progress for their communities. Such actions not only hinder genuine progress but also jeopardize the integrity of our public service," she added.

San Jose asked the region’s local chief executives (LCE) to exercise due diligence in any dealings involving infrastructure funds and the facilitation of projects.

The DILG-CAR chief explained that the emphasis on exercising caution reflects the need to maintain transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct in government transactions.

"I am calling on all LGUs to adhere to established procedures and protocols for funding allocation and disbursement. Engaging in deals that promise preferential treatment or speedy processing in exchange for payment could lead to irregularities, corruption, and misuse of public funds," San Jose stressed.

By reiterating the warning, San Jose asserted that the DILG and the DBM intend to prevent any instances where public funds are mishandled or misappropriated. 

"It is crucial for LGUs to follow proper channels, adhere to legal processes, and prioritize the best interests of the communities they serve," San Jose noted.

"If LGUs encounter situations involving individuals or groups making questionable claims about expediting fund releases, they are advised to report such incidents to the appropriate authorities or oversight bodies. This proactive approach ensures that potential cases of fraud or corruption are promptly addressed and prevented, upholding the integrity of government operations and the responsible use of public resources," she added.

To recall, San Jose and the DBM issued the call, in response to reports from the LGUs of individuals claiming to be able to secure the release of the Local Government Support Fund-Financial Assistance to Local Government Units (LGSF-FALGU) and other forms of national government funding in exchange for monetary compensation. 

San Jose explained that 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 systems, evacuation centers, public parks, fish ports, and post-harvest facilities are among the infrastructure and other projects covered by LGSF-FALGU.

The DILG Provincial Offices reported that certain individuals are engaging in unethical practices by falsely asserting their involvement in expediting the disbursement of funds under the LGSF-FALGU. 

These individuals have been found to be pressuring the municipal mayors of Ifugao, Kalinga and Mountain Province to allocate them a percentage ranging from five to fifteen percent of the funds received by the LGUs.

San Jose also noted that these individuals also expressed their desire to be selected by the LGUs as contractors in implementing the projects under the LGSF-FALGU.

“The process of submitting requests for LFSF-FALGU by LGUs is exclusively done through the Digital Requests Submission for Local Government Support Fund (DRSL) available on the DBM Apps Portal. It is important to note that the LGSF-FALGU is disbursed directly to LGUs without any requirement for external follow-up, influence, or expediting of the fund release,” San Jose explained.

San Jose reminded the recipient LGUs to comply with the provisions of Republic Act (RA) No. 9184 or the Government Procurement Act and be diligent in screening contractors who will implement the projects.

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