Monday, July 21, 2008 DOE told to simplify access to fund By Jane Cadalig
THE Department of Energy (DOE) should not make it hard for local government units (LGUs) to access the funds derived from the utilization of their respective resources.
Benguet Governor Nestor Fongwan said the DOE should simplify the processes which LGUs need to do before they could avail of the funds derived from the operations of dams in their localities.
Communities playing host to the dams are entitled to the environmental funds remitted to the National Government.
The DOE gives the fund back to the LGUs in terms of funds for local projects. LGUs are required to present proposals to be funded through the DOE.
"Accessing these funds is next to impossible. In fact, due to the stringent process, most LGUs opt not to access the money anymore," Fongwan said.
Localities in the uplands are seeking inclusion to the host communities, as defined in the Local Government Code.
Host communities, under the law, are areas where the dams are located.
But communities in the uplands, particularly the areas where the watershed are located, are seeking amendment of the law to include them in the host communities, for being the sources of water feeding the dams.
