Mayor Edwin “EdSa” Santiago delivers his message during the second Local Development Council meeting held at the Amphitheatre, Heroes Hall on July 01, 2020. Contributed photo
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — The Local Development Council (LDC), chaired by Mayor Edwin “EdSa” Santiago, approved on Wednesday, during their second meeting, the appropriation and utilization of the City’s 20-percent local development fund for the year 2021.
As provided under the Local Government Code of 1991 (Republic Act No. 7160), 20 percent of each local government unit’s Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) should be set-aside for their development projects.
The City’s LDF amounts to P187,932,998. This will cover for the economic and social developments as well as the environmental management of San Fernando.
Another 65.77 percent of the LDF will be allotted for the economic development of the City to include the improvement/construction of roads, amortization of loans used to finance development projects, aid to barangay priority projects, etc.
Social development will get 13.13 percent of the LDF and environmental management will receive 21.10 percent of the fund.
Santiago said the City will try to fund all the priority projects despite the challenges brought by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
“This COVID-19 had hit us very hard. Our economy is going down. Even the country, hindi na alam saan kukuha ng budget. But the City, with the help of our constituents, barangay captains, civil society organizations and public-private partners will try to address all the needed projects and programs related or not to COVID-19,” the mayor said.
Pampanga Third District Representative Aurelio Gonzales also attended the meeting and committed tohelp in funding the City’s projects particularly, the establishment of its permanent COVID-19 isolation facility.
The congressman also urged all officials to support the local government and to set aside politics.
“Hindi naman po ako nahuhuli sa balita. Last week, nabalitaan ko yung case filed against our mayor. Ang sa akin lang, kalimutan muna natin ang laban sa pulitika. May panahon para diyan. Sa ngayon, sikapin muna nating manalo laban sa COVID-19,” Gonzales said.
For the year 2020, the City is using its 20-percent LDF in funding COVID-19-related programs, projects and activities (PPAs).
This is in accordance with Joint Memorandum Circular No.1 of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, allowing the utilization of 20 percent of the Annual Internal Revenue Allotment for Development Projects to purchase supplies and fund other requirements for local government unit initiatives to address the COVID-19 crisis.
