FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO BARANGAYS. Gov. Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr. hands a check amounting to Php 25,000 to Treasurer Nanette Surmieda of Otucan Sur, Bauko. Witnessing the distribution are Provincial Treasurer Cawed A. Gamonnac and Acting Asst. Provincial Treasurer Rafael L. Lingbanan, Jr.

Bontoc – The Provincial Government of Mountain Province released a total amount of Php 3,600,000 financial aid to the different barangays in the province.

Gov. Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr., led the turn-over of checks amounting to Php 25,000 per barangay during a consultation on revenue generation capabilities to barangay officials and treasurers on July 25, 2019 at the Multi-Purpose Building in the capital town.

According to the governor, the annual assistance to barangays was raised to P25,000 starting this year to sustain the growth and contribute to the development of the 144 barangays.

“We have worked for the increase of the annual financial aid for our front liners to feel the presence of the government. With our meager budget, we assure that all the barangays will receive an equitable support each from the province,” Lacwasan said.

Lacwasan recalled that the annual assistance to the barangays started in 1997 during his term as an Ex-Officio Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member. The amount of Php 1,000 was given to the different barangays per local government code.

Being a barangay chairman himself in his prime, Lacwasan worked for the increase of the assistance to Php 2,000 in the succeeding year. In 1999, he authored and lobbied for a resolution that doubled the amount to Php 4,000 until it was again raised to Php 5,000 in 2001 by virtue of Provincial Ordinance No. 25. s. 2001. The ordinance that was already been in effect secured the continuation of the financial aid to barangays until 2010.

In 2011, during Lacwasan’s first term as Vice Governor, the financial assistance to the barangays increased to Php 10,000 each through Provincial Ordinance No. 120, s. 2011 which amended the previous ordinance. The amount was again increased to Php 15,000 in 2013 then further increased to Php 20,000 in 2017.

“In my early years in public service until today, I strongly advocated the “Barangay Muna” Program; hence, it became my administration’s battle cry when I assumed as governor in 2016,” Lacwasan said.

Lacwasan also underscored the Aid to Barangay Development Project of the provincial government wherein each barangay is entitled to receive additional assistance through the provision of equipment and supplies amounting to Php 50,000.

Also, the governor assured that the provincial government will continue to implement community projects to the less developed barangays in the province.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Treasury Office conducted a barangay consultation to improve the revenue generation capabilities at the barangay level by informing and educating the participants on how to create, generate and increase the revenues in their respective barangays.

According to Provincial Treasurer Cawed A. Gamonnac, the activity intends to improve the inter-Local Government Unit coordination which may open a roadmap for a more efficient and effective collection performance for the best interest of the province.