Unity in bringing more national funds to the district

By VINCE BORNEO
National Unity Party . 

ALL politicians derive their strength from the localities that they represent. Simply said, all politics is local.

To further explain this current longunning reality, most of our people do not go to their district representative or senator and ask for laws to be made. They go to these and all other elected officials to ask for help: a road or a bridge to their farm areas; financial assistance for hospitalization, burial, transportation, education and access to government programs or services that are otherwise beyond their reach.  So it is part of the realpolitik that lawmakers do their share to help their constituents by helping bring nationally funded programs and projects to the towns and cities in the respective areas they represent.

This week, we shall just take a cursory look at how Misamis Oriental (2nd District) Congresswoman Juliette Uy of the National Unity Party (NUP) has done her duty so far in helping ensure that the adequate and appropriate funding for various government programs reach the district she represents.

Since her first term, Congresswoman Uy has been an active member of the Committee on Appropriations since 2013. She struck up unity with fellow lawmakers in ensuring that their respective districts and constituencies would get a share in the annual national budget starting in 2014.

Looking into the data of the Departments of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Agriculture (DA), Health (DOH), Social Welfare and Development among others, will show that infrastructure and social services funding for the second district of Misamis Oriental had an uptick under Congresswoman Uy.

In her first term, where she participated in the crafting of the national budget for the years 2014 to 2016, a total of P3.24 billion of national government funding for infrastructure projects and social services was implemented in her district.

In her current term — again as a member of the Committee on Appropriations — a total of P4.069 billion worth of projects and services were implemented for the years 2017 to 2018. 

The national budget for 2019 is still being tackled by the bicameral conference committee of the 17th Congress. There can only be more in offing for the localities and the people of Misamis Oriental.

This affirms the fact that government funding exposure in Misamis Oriental’s second district is increasing – thanks to its hardworking lady legislator.

This is service to the people. This is leadership by unity and perseverance. This is the making of Misamis Oriental Second District Congresswoman Juliette Uy.

(Vince Borneo is a legislative staff in the House of Representatives. He contributes to local dailies on the side.)