SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga—The Department of Interior and Local Government in Central Luzon has granted P200 million to 11 municipalities of Pampanga to boost their respective development projects and improve the standard of living of residents in the province.
Myrvi Fabia, DILG provincial director, said the first tranche of the financial aid was released recently, while the second installment will be released soon.
Fabia said the municipal beneficiaries include Bacolor, Lubao, Apalit, Arayat, Floridablanca, Guagua, Macabebe, Minalin, San Luis, San Simon and Sta. Ana.
The assistance, amounting to P15 million for each municipality, will be used for rehabilitation and reconstruction of barangay and municipal roads, building of small water impounding facilities, evacuation facilities, and other projects that will have a “solid impact” in the province.
“The funds are aimed to raise the standard of living, specially of the less fortunate and less privileged sectors living in the municipalities,” Fabia said.
She said the grants were awarded to the 11 municipalities because of their proper implementation of the province’s development projects whether it is national, foreign, or locally assisted projects under watchful eye of Gov. Lilia Pineda.
Fabia stressed the department will still monitor the proper use of the project funds through the local government units.
Earlier, the DILG said Pampanga has “completely rehabilitated” thousands of drug dependents by employing them and helping their families.
The drug dependents, who underwent months of rehabilitation in the different centers in the region, will receive P365 a day for cleaning silted canals and streets in their respective municipalities and cities.
Luningning Vergara, Public Employment Service Office chief of Pampanga, said about 2,000 employment slots are available for the drug dependents.
The dependents are also offered training programs under the “Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers or TUPAD” to continue their earning capacity, Vergara said.
The program is a joint project of the provincial office of the Department of Labor and Employment and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.