Municipality of Guagua procures 2.4-M life-saving equipments from GPP funds
BY: MARIBEL U. SINGCA
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—In line with the projects comprised under the Grassroots Participatory Process (GPP) formerly Bottom-up Budgeting (BUB) of the national government, P2,396,814.00 worth of life saving equipments for flood-prone residents were purchased by the Municipality of Guagua, recently.
Partial delivery was personally received by Honorable Mayor Dante Torres and DILG officer Magdalena Yonzon, at the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO).
The activity was witnessed by MDRRMO head, Aldwin Mallari, DILG Community Mobilizer Amelito Vitug and Civil Society Organizations’ representatives, Noel Gatchalian of TAU-Guagua (Taung Atin Ugnayan Guagua), and Fernando Salazar, president of Parents-Teachers Association.
The life-saving equipment was part of the P15 million worth of projects allocated for Guagua for BUB Fiscal year 2014. It was procured through regular bidding process using the P2,252,500.00 check awarded by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). The remaining P144,314.00 served as the municipality’s counterpart for equipments and additional P253,186.00 for provision of facilities at MDRRMO.
The delivered items were: 1 set Hydraulic power- Vehicle Crach Extrication Equipment; 5 pcs. Headlamps; 1 pc. 36 inch Crowbar; 1 pc. Shovel; I pc. Hammer; 1 pc. Sledge Hammer; 2 pcs. Fire Axe; 1 pc. Bolt Cutter; 1 spool 61-meter Water Rescue Rope.
“Considering that the grassroots or civil society members are the beneficiaries and end-users of the projects, BUB program really addresses the sentiment of the people”, Mayor Dante Torres said.
The BUB program is a process through which priority projects are identified jointly by local governments and communities/citizens and are incorporated into the proposed budgets of the national government agencies submitted to Congress for approval.
Participating agencies are DA, BFAR, DEPED, DOE, DENR, DOH, DILG, DOLE, DSWD, DOT, DTI, TESDA, NAPC, NCIP, NEA and NIA.
It can be recalled that this program started in 2013 which aims to make planning and budgeting processes of both national and local governments more participatory, transparent and responsive to the urgent needs of the people especially the poor marginalized through genuine involvement of grassroots organizations and community groups.
Furthermore, two units of Rescue boats, Air-lifting bags, utility ladder, scuba tanks and accessories are yet to be delivered to complete the whole project.
