‘Fiscal mgt. needed for a healthy LGU’
Roxas City – The Roxas City government is financially stable, according to city mayor Vicente Bermejo.
Bermejo disclosed that for a local government unit (LGU) to become financially healthy, the leader must be strong in managing its finances and other resources for the LGU to implement its priority programs and projects.
He added that for 2009 alone, the city government here was able to implement various priority development initiatives such as drainage system, road lights and enhanced water system in the various barangays.
He said that under its personnel services, the city was able to save about P11 million last year, which is more than enough for the giving of the required P10,000 productivity enhancement incentive (PEI), for each government employee.
Bermejo said that the city, through its local school board was able to provide P6 million to finish the construction of the Roxas City School’s Division Office which was started before his term as city mayor.
According to him, some P60-million various projects were implemented by the city government from January to June last year through its local fund.
Aside from the locally funded city projects, the Roxas City government, in partnership with the Department of Public Works and Highways Western Visayas Regional Office will be implementing the P40 million drainage systems projects in the identified barangays of the city.
Of the P40 million fund for said project, P30 million was already released by the Department of Budget and Management.
The latest P20 million was personally handed over by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to Mayor Bermejo during her visit to Roxas City on December 7 last year.
Bermejo is optimistic that the remaining P10 million fund will be released soon by the national government.
President Arroyo had also directed the DPWH to work overtime to complete her legacy project for Roxas City before her term ends in June this year. (PIA/Jemin B. Guillermo)
