The government has allotted some PHP1.24 billion for the various barangay-based development projects this year in parts of Region 12 (Soccsksargen) in line with the “whole-of-nation” approach to end local communist armed conflict.

Josephine Leysa, director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Region 12, said a total of 62 barangays in the region will benefit from the initiative, which is supported by the Local Government Support Fund.

She said each of them will receive grants of PHP20 million each as support for the rollout of their Barangay Development Programs.

It covers 36 barangays in North Cotabato, with 10 located in Magpet town, seven in Kidapawan City, five each in Arakan, Makilala and President Roxas, three in Tulunan and one in Antipas.

A total of 13 barangays were selected in Sarangani, with four each in Alabel and Maasim, three in Malapatan and two in Kiamba.

The 12 recipient barangays in Sultan Kudarat are all in Columbio town while the lone grantee in South Cotabato is situated in Lake Sebu.

Leysa said the recipients submitted over 200 project proposals in the third quarter of 2020 and they were validated by engineers from their project development management unit.

She said the proposed projects include farm-to-market roads, school buildings, water and sanitation systems, health stations, rural electrification, and livelihood and technical-vocational trainings.

“Some of the recipients pushed for the repair, reconstruction and rehabilitation of various public structures and the provision of agricultural support as well as assistance to indigenous peoples’ families and individuals,” she said in a report.

The orientations are ongoing with concerned officials regarding the implementation of the projects, she said.

To expedite their rollout, Leysa said the Regional Peace and Order Council of Region 12 passed a resolution last Feb. 19 directing the recipient local government units (LGU) to fast track their compliance to the technical requirements of the projects.

She said they earlier convened the concerned LGUs and their partner agencies to help facilitate its rollout through the finalization of the plans and strategies in localizing the “whole-of-nation” strategy as provided for in Executive Order No. 70 of President Rodrigo Duterte. (PNA)