CORTES, Bohol, June 24 (PIA)  -- The local government unit of Catigbian through its Office of the Municipal Engineer was able to implement 25 locally funded projects and eight more national government funded projects amounting to a total of P61,114.032.

This in a bid to slowly alter the economic landscape of the town despite a scrimp in the National Tax Allocation.

During the 74th Foundation Days and 18th Katigbawan Festival recently, Catigbian Mayor Elizabeth Mandin-Pace said they allocated the necessary funds from their 20% Local Development Fund, Gender and Development Fund, and the Municipal Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Funds in 2022 to put up key infrastructure needed to bring government services closer to the people if not their communities.

Speaking during her State of the Municipality Address (SOMA) in front of Catigbianons assembled for the Katigbawan events, Mandin-Pace said some P28,790,279.60 have been used to fund locally identified projects that could speed up the town’s march to progress and change the town’s skyline.

In addition, the town through the Municipal Engineer’s Office also implemented eight national government funded projects: an assistance fund from the Department of Interior and Local Government in its 2020 Assistance to Municipalities in the SALIN TUBIG 2020, Financial Assistance to LGU in 2021 and Local Government Support Fund’s Support to Barangay Development Programs in 2022 had at the local disposal an additional P32,323,753 worth of infrastructure projects.

Projects funded locally include two critical farm-to-market roads (FMRs) worth P1M, seven public and multi-purpose buildings and covered courts worth P10.7M, a landslide mitigating structure or slope protection worth P1M, and two waterworks projects in expansion and development worth P5.1M.

She said the ongoing and nearly completed locally funded projects include two FMRs worth P1.9M, seven public multipurpose buildings and covered courts worth P7.7M, four landslide mitigating structure of slope protections at P 1.3M.

She also reported the completed national government funded projects such as a P4M FMR, multi-purpose vehicle and an ambulance at P5M, some waterworks projects and expansion and development project worth P15.3M.

“Because of this, the Catigbian Waterworks Office had accommodated 435 additional applicants for water services in addition to last year’s 3,337, that right now, we are catering to 60% of total households,” she said.

The LGU currently has ongoing national government funded projects like a P4M FMR and another P4M classroom building and barangay health station.

In the 2023 calendar year budget, the town has identified 17 projects to be funded locally, with some of the coming from their 2023 MDRRM Fund and through the 2023 Appropriation ordinance for local implementation.

Set to be implemented through the Office of the Municipal Engineer, these amount to P29.3M.

This year, the town awaits for the delivery of two heavy equipment: a backhoe and a dump truck worth P14M and a makeshift school building worth P400,000.

The local government is also waiting for the bidding and award of a million worth of municipal roads, the delivery of a P250,000 Bandong Pumpboat for Abatan River Cruise and a rehabilitation and improvement of a multi-purpose hall worth P2.4M, the P400,000 rehabilitation of a rice wine processing plant, and the renovation of Mahayag Norte Detachment Kitchen at P70,000.

Meanwhile, the town also awaits the completed detailed engineering design for an P800,000 landslide mitigating structure and slope protection, delivery of the 12 mobility units in the Multicabs for Barangays program worth P4-M, construction and rehabilitation as well as improvement of multi-purpose buildings and Barangay Health Stations at P4.1M, P600,000 for the town’s waterworks chlorination system, the completion of the access road at P175,000, the P75,000 establishment of the Mahayag Covered Court, and P1-Mfor the clean and green program. (RAHC/PIA7 Bohol)