The City Government of Pagadian in coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region IX spearheaded the Groundbreaking of the P25 Million worth project under the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PaMaNa) program.

The groundbreaking ceremonies conducted on February 6, 2014 at the Barangay Polayagan, Pagadian City was graced by Mayor Romeo P. Pulmones, Vice Mayor Divina Grace Yu and DILG IX Regional Director Paisal O. Abutazil, respectively.

Likewise present were City Councilors Bienvenido C. Culve and Cesar C. Dacal, Jr., Punong Barangays (PB) of the areas PB Maximo G. Genarale of Barangay Poloyagan and PB Jorge S. Tudio of Barangay Bomba, DILG City Local Government Operations Officer Paulina S. Gadiano and technical personnel from the Project Management Monitoring Unit (PDMU) of the DILG Regional Office, among others.

The construction, improvement and concreting of the 5-kilometer coastal road from Barangay Bomba-Poloyagan-Pantad-Rebokon of the municipality of Dumalinao is a PaMaNa project intended to improve the efficiency of transport services, develop and increase the agricultural production and propel economic growth through peace intervention in the covered areas.

The road improvement shall be done on existing concrete and unmaintained road sections in the aforesaid barangays.

In his message during the program, RD Abutazil emphasized that, considering the huge budget intended for the different PaMaNa projects in Region IX, local government units (LGUs) should, first and foremost, exercise accountability and transparency throughout the entire process of project implementation, to ensure that government funds are properly utilized.

The PaMaNa program is the national government’s peace and development framework to respond and strengthen peace building reconstruction and development in conflict-affected areas, as identified by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace process (OPAPP). Development projects are intended to reduce poverty through community infrastructure and focused delivery of social services in the conflict-affected zones.

Further, the PaMaNa project of Pagadian City is one of the projects scheduled for implementation covered by the CY 2013 PaMaNa total budget allocation in the amount of P133 Million.

For FY 2014, the amount of P73.3 Million is allotted for the PaMaNa program in Region IX.