Mindanaotoday.com | DBM alerts LGUs of ‘fund brokers’
By Uriel Quilinguing
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Beware of persons offering their services, promising local government units they can expedite the release of financial assistance, the Department of Budget and Management warned Thursday, May 5.
Achilles Gerald Bravo, DBM assistant secretary, issued the advisory in a Philippine Information Agency forum at SM City Cagayan de Oro mall, just four days before today’s (May 9) national and local elections.
“There are unscrupulous persons assuring governors, mayors, and barangays they can facilitate the release of LGSF,” said Bravo, assuring the Local Government Support Fund can be availed of without the need for “fund brokers.”
He said there have been circulars, urging local government executives not to entertain persons, claiming they can represent and influence the DBM in approving the fund release, yet many had been victimized.
But details and exactly how many and whether those behind these shady deals had been brought to court, were not disclosed – these being within the purview of the interior and local government department.
DBM’s Circular 142, released Jan. 29, this year, provided the guidelines on the release and utilization of the P5.583-billion LGSF allocation (from the General Appropriations Act) and the deadline for the submission of request is set on June 30.
As indicated in the circular, the DBM may approve the release P30 million for provinces, P20 million for cities, P10 million for municipalities, and P5 million for barangays. Funds are being released by the Bureau Treasury.
“All the local governments have to do is submit a (special budget) request, they need not personally submit the SBR and supporting documents since these can be done online,” said Bravo, adding they will deal directly to the requesting local chief executive.
All SBRs would be subjected to evaluation based on “necessity, just and equitable distribution among local government units, and fund availability” and these must be signed by local chief executives and addressed to the DBM Secretary.
The DBM would refrain from divulging the status or details of fund releases in case of phone inquiries, but once requesting local governments comply the guidelines, the funds (LGSF) would be released.