MikeLigalig.com

by Bohol Standard

Pilar Mayor Wilson Pajo, in a recent interview, said that he was thankful that his town had been chosen as one of the pilot areas of the Prosperity Teams initiated by Gov Edgar M. Chatto.

Pajo added that there had been close coordination between the members of the Prosperity Teams (ProTeams) and the municipal government of PIlar, in contrast to a report from the mayor of Carmen that there had been no coordination with her prior to the entry of the ProTeams in her town.

Although Mayor Pajo said that he did not know Carmen Mayor Che Toribio-de los Reyes’s reason for wanting to pull out the ProTeams from the five barangays of her town that they were designated in, he clarified that as for the people of his town they were properly informed and briefed on what the Prosperity Teams were there to do.

He continued that apart from the coordination with the ProTeam members, he and his fellow mayors had also been advised prior to the program implementation during their regular meetings of the provincial chapter of the League of Municipalities and also via a memorandum circular from Governor Edgar Chatto.

Of the 21 barangays of Pilar, two have been selected as ProTeam pilot areas; these are the barangays of Cansungay and Bagacay.

Mayor Pajo added that he wished all the other barangays of his town would eventually be also included in the program, although he acknowledged that there criteria for ranking the pilot areas for implementation in the province.

The mayor said that from what he has understood about the program, the ProTeams were formed to identify what developments are most needed in a purok, especially in areas that may not be easily attended to by the local government for reasons of remoteness, among others.

Pajo also brought up that the program follows the barangay empowerment approach, which his town had already come across with as one of the beneficiary towns from the first to the third phase of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s KALAHI-CIDSS program.

It should be remembered that in 2006, Pilar was recognized as “Best in LGU Engagement” under the KALAHI-CIDSS program for the synergy of efforts between the community and the municipal officials.

Pajo adds that the ProTeams are in form a continuation of the provincial government’s poverty alleviation program in previous administrations and as continued by the KALAHI-CIDSS program of the DSWD.

Accordingly, he noted that the Prosperity Team has an even broader scope since it is composed of several departments and agencies of government and even involves volunteers from the private sector.

Pajo closed that even in spite of the development and progress achieved by any locality, citing Pilar’s experience under the KALAHI-CIDSS program, there will always be a prevailing or emerging difficulty that needs to be addressed, and for the resolution of which help will always be needed and welcome.

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