In a significant move to enhance local development, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto handed over a Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) totaling P265 million to Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro.
The allocation, from the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF), targets critical provincial projects in energy, healthcare, and farm-to-market road initiatives, marking a pivotal step in the National Government’s commitment to bolster local communities.
“Local and national governments are united, and we will work together so our countrymen here in Cebu will benefit.”
“Local and national governments are united, and we will work together so our countrymen here in Cebu will benefit,” Recto said.
Baricuatro said Recto’s presence in Cebu “underscores the National Government’s dedication to forging effective partnerships with local governments”.
The event also celebrated the Bagong Pilipinas initiative, with Recto leading the distribution of rice assistance to approximately 3,200 beneficiaries, including fisherfolk, single solo parents, and senior citizens.
“This rice comes from our local farmers,” he said, emphasizing it as part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to ensure no Filipino family goes hungry.
“While this assistance provides immediate relief, it’s a small part of the services funded by the National Government,” Recto added.
He also met with Presidential Scholars, beneficiaries of the Local Socio-Civic Project Fund, which provides every barangay with P100,000 to support five graduating senior high school college students.
“We deeply appreciate this active and unprecedented partnership, bringing tangible progress to every Cebuano.”
“We deeply appreciate this active and unprecedented partnership, bringing tangible progress to every Cebuano,” Baricuatro said.
Recto affirmed the administration’s commitment that “every Cebuano will benefit, and every Filipino will prosper”.
The visit to Cebu is part of a series of nationwide efforts to ensure development funds are used efficiently and transparently at the grassroots level.
Aside from the LGSF funds for the provincial government, the Local Government of Cordova, Cebu also received P20 million for their infrastructure projects funded through the LGSF.
In addition, P54.8 million worth of Socio-Civic Project funds were turned over to 9 LGUs within the province namely Alcoy, Aloguinsan, Balamban, Daanbantayan, Danao, Medellin, Toledo, Pinamungajan and Sogod.
