Government launches P147-M infra projects for Nuev

CABANATUAN CITY – At least P174.5 million in government infrastructure projects have been launched, completed or will be undertaken by foreign funding institutions, local governments and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Nueva Ecija.

Engineer Angelito Twaño, district engineer of the second engineering district of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Nueva Ecija, told The STAR that the biggest of these projects is the P45-million "End Rim" project to be undertaken from Gapan City to Cabanatuan which will be implemented by the Bureau of Maintenance under director Luisito Visorde starting this October.

Twaño said that the foreign-assisted project has already been bidded out and awarded to the winning bidder, LR Tigue Construction of Bulacan.

It will pass through Sta. Rosa town and will involve the construction of a drainage canal on one side of the national road.

Nueva Ecija Gov. Tomas Joson III is also requesting the DPWH to release the savings of the End Rim project amounting to P9 million for the repair and rehabilitation of various roads in the second engineering district.

He said that P17.5 million is set to be released this month for various infrastructure projects of third district Rep. Aurelio Umali.

Sen. Ramon Revilla had also allocated P6 million for the repair and rehabilitation of the municipal hall in San Leonardo town. Twaño said that Mayor Ramon Bautista-Revilla is set to receive an additional P15 million for various road projects in San Leonardo.

Twaño said that they are also awaiting funding amounting to P26 million from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to restore the two-kilometer portion of the Jaen-San Isidro Road which suffered damages after it was made an alternate route when the Doña Josefa Bridge in Gapan was closed to vehicular traffic last year for repair works.

He said that asphalt overlay works had also been done at the Pulo-Bulualto Road at a cost of P41 million while the P10-million drainage and road-concreting project of the 800-meter, flood-prone San Nicolas Road, a pet project of fourth district Rep. Raul Villareal, has already been completed.

Congressman Villareal also facilitated the release of P20 million coursed through his sister-in-law San Isidro Mayor Sonia Lorenzo for the "Centennial Building" at the town hall which is now nearing completion.