Provincial Government Units in Region XII were reminded of the guidelines in implementing road projects funded under the national government’s 2020 Conditional Matching Grant to Provinces (CMGP) Program, as they gear up in implementing their respective CMGP-funded projects.
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) XII CMGP Regional Focal Person, Engr. Francis Earl Caldedero, said provincial governments should remember to adhere with the prescribed minimum road design standard of 230 mm PCCP thickness as cited in Department Order No. 112, series of 2019 and Department Order 12, series of 2020, of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). Previously, the program prescribes a minimum of 200 mm PCCP thickness for its road projects.
Provincial governments should also abide by the program’s policy for fund use, which will only be limited to funding the project specified in the Notice of Authority to Debit Account Issued (NADAI) provided by the Bureau of Treasury.
Caldedero explained, CMGP funds shall not be used to fund projects already covered by other funds, or to pay for personnel services expenses related to the projects’ preparation and evaluation, among others.
DILG XII, through its Project Management Development Unit (PDMU), facilitated a half-day virtual orientation early this week with the members of the provinces’ Local Road Management Teams to lay down the said Program Implementation Guidelines.
The activity aimed to “orient every one of their respective roles and responsibilities, tools and processes to effectively implement this program,” DILG XII Regional Director Jospehine Cabrido-Leysa, CESO III said.
This reminder came after three of the provinces in the region – South Cotabato, Sarangani, and Cotabato - have received their NADAI, which formally indicates that funds have been downloaded to the provincial LGUs and signals the start of the program implementation. Sultan Kudarat is currently waiting for the release of their NADAI from BTr.
Region XII will be implementing 13 CMGP projects this year amounting to Php 488.196 million after satisfying the governance reform and technical requirements of the program.
Four projects each will be implemented in the provinces of South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat, three in Sarangani, and two in Cotabato, with a combined road length of 29.365 kilometers.
“As an institutional reform and governance program, CMGP is focused on transforming and strengthening existing systems to improve the delivery of road services on the provincial level,” Director Leysa said during the virtual orientation.
Provincial Governments are given until December 31, 2021 to complete their respective CMGP projects. Funds undisbursed after the said date will be reverted by the provincial government to the BTr in accordance with the Special Provisions under the program’s 2020 General Appropriations Act.
LGU project implementers, while not encouraged, may also terminate or cancel the projects by issuing a Notarized Affidavit of Undertaking (if beyond the validity of fund) or rebid the projects remaining works (if within the validity of fund).
Meanwhile, PDMU Chief Herminia S. Ontoy assured the Department’s relentless support and continued technical assistance to the provincial governments as part of DILG’s mandate.
