BONTOC, SOUTHERN LEYTE – New year kicked off with the turn-over and groundbreaking of projects under the DILG and implemented by local governments in Bontoc, Southern Leyte on January 4, 2023.

Rains did not dampen the enthusiasm of residents and officials during the turn-over rites for the Five Million pesos Street Lighting project under the Local Government Support Fund – Financial Assistance to LGUs (LGSF-FALGU) in Barangay Divisoria, Bontoc, Southern Leyte that would improve access of the residents to the poblacion barangays.

This was followed by a groundbreaking of projects under the Support to Barangay Development Program (SBDP) 2022 amounting to 16 Million pesos in four barangays in Bontoc.

DILG 8 Regional Director Arnel M. Agabe who led the ceremonies, said the projects will greatly help in the delivery of basic services to the community and spur economic growth in line with the whole-of-nation approach to end local communist armed conflict.

“These projects are done to help all of you, and let everyone feel that the government is with you” RD Agabe said.

Also attending the activity were Provincial Director Danilo Laguitan of DILG Southern Leyte, along with Rosa Emilia G. Mercado, Vice Governor of Southern Leyte, Noel E. Alinsub, Mayor of the Municipality of Bontoc, and other local officials.

Their presence despite the rainy weather underscored the government’s determination to build a peaceful, progressive nation no matter the challenges.

LGSF-FALGU is allocated to finance local development and infrastructure projects under the government’s economic stimulus program, while the SBDP is a fund meant to help provide the needed infrastructure and social services to geographically isolated barangays. Beneficiary local governments are tasked with implementing the projects with technical assistance from the DILG.