Secretary of the Interior and Local Government, Jesse M. Robredo awarded PhP58 Million Performance Challenge Fund (PCF) to four (4) Cities and 46 Municipalities of Region 1. The awarding is one of the highlights of the Tapatan on Disaster Preparedness and Climate Change Adaptation of DILG Region 1 on July 10, 2012 at Oasis Country Resort, City of San Fernando, La Union.

Regional Director Corazon P. Guray of the DILG shared that “the PCF, already in its third year of implementation, is a fi nancial incentive granted to LGUs with Seal of Good Housekeeping (SGH), to finance their local development initiatives along the areas of tourism, local economic development, disaster risk reduction and management and solid waste management.”

The four (4) cities which received their PhP3 Million check from Secretary Robredo were the Cities of Laoag and Batac of lIocos Norte and Urdaneta and San Carlos of Pangasinan. On the other hand, the Secretary handed over PhP1 Million each to six (6) municipalities of lIocos Norte, 10 from Ilocos Sur, six (6) from La Union, and 24 from Pangasinan.

For the 2012 PCF, according to Dir. Guray, the region has 62 benefi ciaries belonging to 2nd - 3rd income class cities and 1st income class municipalities awarded with the SGH in 2011. The 50 cities and municipalities were the only LGUs which completed the 12 documentary requirements stated in the policy guidelines of the Department. She informed that twelve (12) cities and municipalities from the Provinces of Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan are still in the process of completing their respective requirements.

Secretary Robredo was the Guest of Honor and Speaker for the Tapatan, for the second time that the DILG conducted the said activity. Last year, the Full Disclosure Policy (FDP) of the Department was put across to all the local chief executives, representatives of civil society organizations, national government agencies, and media. For this year, the focus was on Disaster Preparedness and Climate Change Adaptation. An estimated 400 participants listened to discussions of speakers from the Climate Change Commission, Offi ce of Civil Defense, the DILG and Department of Science and Technology (DOST) - Central Office. The Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officers (LDRRMOs) of the 129 Provinces, Cities and Municipalities of the region joined this years’ Tapatan.