Eight towns and one city in southern Cebu can now speed up the repair of infrastructure damaged by the October 2013 earthquake.
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) turned over P23.8 million to the local government units (LGU).
The 7.2-magnitude earthquake, with epicenter in Inabanga, Bohol, wrought massive damage to roads, residences, heritage churches and government buildings in many parts of the region.
The checks were turned over on Aug. 5 by DILG Regional Director Ananias Villacorta and Provincial Director Jerome Gonzales to mayors of the municipalities of Alcoy (P3.12 million), Boljoon (P11.2 million), Dalaguete (P1.11 million), Moalboal (P13 million), Samboan (P250,000), and the city of Carcar (P2.11 million).
Checks for the towns of Argao, Alegria and Sibonga will be given as soon as they submit a complete program of works.
The funds are part of the P2.39 billion budget for the Bohol Earthquake Assistance (BEA) program set up to rebuild and rehabilitate quake-damaged local public works.
During the distribution ceremony, the LGUs were also briefed on the guidelines to hasten the implementation of the BEA.