Conscience bloc decries unfair treatment on CDAP release
Napulan
Merry Christmas? And a Happy New Year? Not quite for members of the 'conscience bloc' in the Iloilo Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP) who have not received the budget allocation for their Community Direct Action Program (CDAP).
'Most unfair,' said Board Member Manny Gallar (Third District).
'Please reconsider and give what is due to us and our people,' Board Member Licurgo Tirador (Third District) for his part echoed.
Any luck though for the two others in the bloc?
Gallar
A quick 'no,' came the reply from Board Member Bernardo Silla (First District) and same negative answer from Board Member Macario Napulan (First District), 'wala since second quarter.'
With barely a month to go for the current fiscal year, all hopes for a change of heart is seemingly lost for the group. One fact that Board Member Gallar has since accepted yet lamented, 'too much politics has caused the poor delivery of basic services to our people. Tani alalangay ang CDAP releases. Galing kay kontra partido kag di kami hamot kay gob, ang amon iya constituents ang ginapa-antos di (just because we are in the opposition our constituents suffer).'
Tirador
'I went to his office a month ago to follow up my CDAP. He told me he has yet to check with budget office for availability of funds,' Board Member Napulan further disclosed.
A source said, the CDAP as sourced from the 20% Internal Revenue Allotment of the Province has since been distributed equally to members of the SP. The projects as identified comes from the direct stakeholders themselves, the barangays of each board members with the ultimate approval coming from the Office of the Governor.
Of late though, no such approvals were made on conscience bloc members reason why Gallar and Tirador came out in radio interviews decrying their 'CDAP's fate.'
'Ang importante nga bal-an sang pumuluyo nga nagtinguha kami agud mahatag ini sa ila pero bangud sa sobra nga panghingabot sa amon, ini tanan nga ila man gani kuarta bilang taxpayers, sa sini tanan sila nga pumuluyo ang direkta nga nahalitan, (at least our constituents have an idea that we're treated differently reason why we don't get our share),' Gallar ended.
Silla
Provincial Administrator Manuel Mejorada however explained that the CDAP is released purely upon the discretion of the provincial governor.
He said CDAP is a fund coming from the Governor's Office and it is his prerogative to identify who would be the beneficiaries.
'It is not like the pork barrel wherein every congressman is entitled to it, the CDAP fund comes from the governor's,' Mejorada said.
The provincial administrator added that the CDAP is allocated for the projects identified by the board members themselves.
(With Erly C. Garcia)