“I am very thankful that the national government especially the Department of the Interior and Local Government has included the municipality of Mahayag as recipient under the Bottom Up Budgeting (BUB) for water project program” said Hon. Mayor  Lorna S. Espina during the turn-over ceremony on November 3, 2014 at Mahayag Municipal Hall, Mahayag, Zamboanga del Sur. 

 Graced by the presence of the Department of the Interior and Local Government Regional Director Paisal O. Abutazil, the turn-over ceremony of the expansion of Mahayag local water system level III and improvement of Panagan-Delusom water system  level II was likewise attended by the local officials including the 10 Punong Barangays who were direct beneficiaries of the newly-completed water project.

Mayor Espina added that it was first time under her administration that the LGU has received a project grant amounting to 14 Million and was given to them not in a form of loan but as a financial grant.

She further urged the beneficiaries to work hand in hand to even improve the given project and not to waste the investment poured by the national government on the provision of potable water so that the next generation can still benefit from it.

Regional Director Paisal O. Abutazil in his message congratulated the LGU for a “smooth-sailing” implementation of the project. He also announced the good news that the municipality after reconsideration has passed the Seal of Good Housekeeping (SGH) for 2012 and thus entitled to implement any local projects funded by the national government.

“ LGUs that are recipient of the SGH would only mean that the LGU has complied the transparency and accountability in disclosing public financial documents and has no adverse COA finding” RD Abutazil added.

On the behalf of the ten (10) recipient barangays, Liga ng mga Barangay President Hon. Maximo Bout expressed their gratitude to the DILG and to the municipal officials who worked together in making their dream of water accessible to their constituents.

The ceremony ended by the signing of the certificate of acceptance represented by DILG Regional Director Paisal Abutazil, Hon. Mayor Lorna S. Espina, and the Molrow Contractors.