Compared to the more than P2 billion allocation for infrastructure projects for DPWH Catanduanes, the 2024 budget of the national government provides only a paltry P185 million for other infra projects in Catanduanes under the respective budgets of the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Agriculture (DA) and Department of Education (DepEd).
Of the DOH’s P69.5 million for health facilities in the province, about P41 million is for the construction of barangay health stations, infra projects at three district hospitals, and P12 million for rural health units.
On the other hand, the DA’s Locally Funded Projects for this year includes the concreting of the following farm-to-market roads at P15 million each or a total of P75 million: Tariwara-Canlubi FMR in Pandan, Codon-sitio Pagatpatan-Sialat Point FMR in San Andres, Macutal-sitio Kalanggasan FMR in Baras, Moning-Sagrada FMR in Baras, and sitio Sogod, Soboc FMR in Viga.
Catanduanes probably has the smallest share in the FMR projects in Bicol, which has been allotted a total of P2.8 billion.
The region also gets a total of P2.66 billion under the DepEd’s School Building Program (SBP) for 2024, but only P40 million, or 1.5 percent of the total, has been allocated for Catanduanes.
The lucky schools to be included in the SBP list of schools where 1-Storey, 2-Classroom School Buildings will be built are: Barrio Site Elementary School, Cagraray, Bato; Baldoc Integrated School, Pandan; Codon Elementary School, San Andres; and Suchan ES, Bagamanoc.
It makes you wonder just what makes DPWH the favorite agency of the province’s legislators as far as lobbying for projects is concerned.
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The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) recently amended Memorandum Circular No. 2023-167 on the appointment of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) treasurer.
The old provision, which provides the qualifications of the SK treasurer, stated that the appointee must have an educational background relating to business administration, accountancy, finance, economics, or bookkeeping.
Under the amendment approved last Jan. 26, 2024, the SK chairperson “shall appoint a treasurer with an educational or career background relating to business administration, accountancy, finance, economics, or bookkeeping.”
The SK chair can only consider other suitable nominees only if no person meets the requirements, Memorandum Circular No. 2024-013 states.
The DILG amendment also mandates that the appointed SK treasurer “shall undergo mandatory bookkeeping training from, and must be duly certified by the Technical Education and Skills Development Training Authority (TESDA) before the assumption of office.”
This is in addition to the mandatory training required under DILG MC Bo. 2018-31.
It also provides that the appointed SK treasurers shall be prioritized in the allocation of appropriate TESDA scholarships in accordance with the guidelines to be issued by TESDA for the purpose.
Last week, SK provincial federation president Fred Benedict Gianan coordinated with TESDA-Cabugao administrator Elpidio Tuboro regarding the mandatory bookkeeping training for SK treasurers with TESDA, considering that 315 SK treasurer-appointees need to undergo bookkeeping training and certification with TESDA.
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RUSSIAN SIGNS. An American was being shown a big Soviet sign factory. “We turn out about 500 signs a week,” proudly said the Russian, “and when business demands it, we can step it up to 2,000.”
“Amazing!” said the visitor. “By the way, what do the signs say?”
“Elevators not running,” was the answer.