AGOO, La Union — At least eight towns in the second district of La Union have received their share from the P350 million burley tobacco funds that was released recently through the initiative of Rep. Eufranio Eriguel (2nd District, La Union).

Eriguel said that Bauang town gets the biggest share of P119,994 million but it was reduced to P93 million due to monetization where it was paid in advance from a bank.

While other towns that benefited from the fund include the towns of Sto. Tomas – P48 million, Rosario – P35.8 million, Aringay – more than P30 million, Agoo – P11 million, Caba – around P40 million, Naguilian – with almost P15 million, and Tubao – P4.5 million.

Eriguel said the fund is intended for the construction, rehabilitation and upgrading of numerous farm-to-market roads, infrastructure projects, livelihood programs, cooperatives, equipment, and fertilizer for farmers.

He said that aside from the P350 million or 80 percent congressional share, the provincial government also received its 10 percent share, and another 10 percent share for the eight municipalities.

“I hope that this initial fund would help our constituents in La Union, particularly in the second district, because we have been left behind for the past years if compared to the first district,” he said.

The lawmaker is inclined to pursue the continuous release of the share of the province’s district from the tobacco funds which will eventually be downloaded to the concerned recipient local governments to be utilized for the efficient and effective delivery of basic services to the people.

Also to bankroll the implementation of vital infrastructure projects to guarantee the realization of rural development for the benefit of the present and future generations of La Union residents.

According to Eriguel, local governments must be empowered to get their fund entitlement from various sources of income, especially the tobacco funds, so that the funds will be released on time in order to serve its purpose rather than wait for so long thereby rendering the funds not enough to complete the projects where it was supposed to be allocated which will deprive the people access to development efforts.