EU donates P5.6 million worth of IT equipment to LGUs

MANILA, Philippines - The European Union (EU) on Thursday turned over P5.6 million worth of computers and training equipment to local government units (LGUs) as part of its project, Support to the Local Government Units for More Effective and Accountable Public Finance Management (LGU PFM 2 Project).

The equipment were turned over to 16 LGUs and 16 regional government agencies of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

The 16 LGUs were chosen by the government agencies based on their readiness and willingness to implement public financial management (PFM) reforms.

Each LGU will receive a full suite of information technology equipment comprising four desktop personal computers, one laptop, one projector, one LCD screen, one laser printer and accessories.

"The ultimate goal of the LGU PFM 2 Project is to help local governments strengthen their public financial management systems and achieve improved revenue generation and expenditure management," Budget Secretary Florencio "Butch" Abad said.

Abad added that the turnover of equipment has been in the works since May 2013.

"This latest endeavor will allow participating local governments and regional offices to undertake PFM more efficiently," Abad said.

Angono Mayor Gerardo Calderon noted that PFM is a tool in making good governance possible as it helps upgrade the quality of service for the public.

"The computers and the other training equipment will surely help us to improve financial transparency through our expenditure reports as the public is made aware of how much we have already spent and where these funds are used," Calderon said.

Achim Tillessen, EU Delegation Head of Development Cooperation, said that local authorities are in the frontline of the delivery of public services. They are also responsible for 16 percent of the 2016 national budget worth P423.3 billion.

He stressed that it is crucial that LGUs have the tools to perform better and more transparently which would lead to improved service delivery.

The new seven-year EU support strategy grants assistance to the Philippines worth 325 million euros or P17 billion, the biggest donor to the country. - Patricia Lourdes Viray