Dimiao Mayor Danilo Guivencan held accountable opposition councilors of the previous Sangguniang Bayan for its failure to avail of a rice loan facility of the National Food Authority (NFA).

Under the NFA rice loan program, the Local Government Units (LGU) can purchase rice on credit from the NFA for relief operations and stockpiling for distribution during relief operations or for rehabilitation projects.

The LGU can avail of rice on credit from the NFA upon submission of requirements as stipulated on the MOA.

Guivencan told DYRD Balita that four councilors – Gilberto Lagua, Russel Yecyec, Alex Lagumbay and Paul Halasan did not sign the MOA that caused the disapproval of the rice loan agreement.

Guivencan lashed out at the councilors for playing politics at the expense of the needs of the municipality.

The LGU, under the loan program can avail of 1,000 bags of rice and funding shall be sourced from the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) and requires the approval of the SB.

Guivencan also lamented that residents of the municipality missed out on the benefits of crucial programs such as the Bottom Up Budgeting (BUB) and the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS).

With the incoming administration, Guivencan assured his constituents that programs neglected by the past SB will now be implemented as majority of the councilors belong to the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Laban (PDPLBN). (Chito M. Visarra with reports from Allen Doydora)