Lacson-Sotto tandem’s BRAVE program eyes P1B billion for each province
AN allocation of P1 billion each for the provinces and at least P100 million for every city and municipality are assured once the tandem of Partido Reporma standard bearer, Senator Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson and Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto, gets the mandate in the 2022 national elections.
According to the veteran lawmakers, no one will be left in terms of development and livelihood if they are given the chance to lead the country.
Apart from the country’s 82 provinces and 1,634 cities and municipalities, the 42,000 barangays nationwide will also get each a share of the national government’s fundings under the Lacson-Sotto tandem’s flagship Budget Reform Advocacy for Village Empowerment (BRAVE) program.
“As per our computation, kung P400 billion ang di nagagamit sa national budget taon-taon, kaya nga kami nakapag-isip ng BRAVE,” Lacson said.
This approach, according to him, would also end the culture of mendicancy of local government units toward national leaders.
During the tandem’s “Online Kumustahan” leg in Naga City, Cebu, the two experienced senators said the BRAVE program will truly help local governments and even remote villages to plan projects around their needs for the years ahead.
Lacson however stressed that this only happens if the national government is actively listening to local communities’ needs and priorities.
“All projects, activities, programs, especially ‘yung hindi big ticket projects should emanate from the local government units, diyan dapat manggagaling,” the veteran senator added, stressing his advocacy for the so-called “bottom-up” budgeting in government.
Lacson stressed that taxpayers’ money would be used more efficiently if the local governments themselves point out and plan the projects and programs for a province, like better electricity providers or stronger, smoother roads.
“The planning will emanate from the local government units because you know the needs and priorities of your localities. Does the national government know that? No,” the former national police chief added.
The former top cop added that he believes this strategy is not a mere band-aid solution to the prevailing problems of the country but would also eliminate problems like “kotong” and corruption that continue to make life difficult for all Filipinos.
Lacson and Sotto, who have a combined 42 years in the Senate, also asked local leaders to give them a chance to implement the same laws they have drafted and scrutinized over the years by installing them in the Executive Department come the May 9, 2022 polls.
