DILG: 1,261 incentive projects done

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) reported that 1,261 of the 1,559 projects funded under the Seal of Good Local Governance-Incentive Fund (SGLGIF) have been completed nationwide, or about 81 percent of the total.

The projects have supported local infrastructure, disaster preparedness and public services, with funding awarded to local government units that demonstrate good governance.

During the DILG Kapihan media forum, DILG-Bulacan director Myrvi Apostol-Fabia said the program had helped address gaps in disaster response facilities in Bulacan, a province frequently affected by flooding.

Fabia cited the province’s 460 evacuation centers as one result of investments aimed at helping residents and local officials respond to disasters. She also pointed to improvements in drainage systems and rescue capabilities.

SGLGIF-funded farm-to-market roads have helped connect remote agricultural communities with commercial centers, allowing farmers to transport produce more efficiently and supporting local economic activity.

Fabia said the program had also helped improve services for persons with disabilities and strengthen the participation of civil society organizations in local government decision-making.

Among the completed projects in Bulacan is a slope-protection structure in Barangay Assumption, City of San Jose del Monte, inaugurated by the DILG and the provincial government in June. The project is intended to protect nearby residents and properties from erosion and slope instability.

In Balagtas, a 987.6-meter drainage system was built along the Balagtas-Pandi Provincial Road in Barangay Santol to improve water discharge and help mitigate flooding.

The DILG said the fund is designed to turn performance-based incentives into projects that address community needs and improve public services.