Regional Director Leon M. Dacanay, Jr.  of the NEDA Regional Office (NRO)  X  and  heads of regional oversight agencies, signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on May 18 with the Municipality of Laguindingan for a project which seeks to improve the management of public finances. The DBM-led MOA signing  was held at the N-Hotel in Cagayan de Oro City.

The municipality of Laguindingan in the province of Misamis Oriental was chosen as the pilot LGU for the Local Government Unit Public Financial Management II (LGU-PFM II) project.  Laguindingan was chosen because of the following reasons: (a) presence of the Laguindingan Airport and its emergence as growth center; (b) accessibility; (c) Seal of Good Housekeeping awardee; and (d) harmonious relationship between the local chief executive and the Sanggunian members.

The LGU-PFM II project, funded by the European Union (EU), aims to strengthen the municipality’s capacity to generate locally-sourced revenues, and spend for basic services more effectively and efficiently.Technical assistance from oversight agencies will be extended to  LGU through the provision of trainings, and improvement of public finance policies, systems and tools.

With Director Dacanay were Mayor  Oliver L. Ubaub of LGU-Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental,  Director Annabelle M. Atillo of DBM X,  Director Gilbert B. Gumabay of DOF-BLGF X, and  Director Rene K. Burdeos of DILG X.

Also present were Assistant Regional Director Mae Ester T. Guiamadel of  NRO  X  and technical staff of the PFM II Regional Inter-agency Team (RIAT).