GMA approves six projects worth P16.3-B

President Arroyo, as chairman of the National Economic and Development (NEDA) board, approved six projects worth P16.3 billion, including the P6.24-billion Agno River Integrated Irrigation Project that is expected to increase agricultural output and boost the income of farmers.

The irrigation project will involve the rehabilitation of the Agno River Irrigation System (ARIS) and the Ambayaoan-Dipalo River Irrigation Systems (ADRIS). It will include the construction of a new diversion dam, construction/rehabilitation of irrigation and drainage facilities, including appurtenant structures of ARIS and ARDIS, organization and training of about 125 farmers irrigator’s associations (FIAs); and right of way acquisition. The two irrigations systems cover a total of 34,450 has.

Another project, the P4.34-billion Pasig-Marikina River Channel Improvement Project (PMRCIP) is expected to alleviate flooding in the National Capital Region (NCR). It will involve riverbank improvement and the construction of flood control structures for the entire stretch of the Pasig-Marikina River.

The P2.12-billion Development of Poor Urban Communities, on the other hand, seeks to reduce urban poverty and improve the urban poor’s quality of life in urban areas outside Metro Manila. The project aims to improve access of urban poor households to secure land tenure, affordable shelter, and basic municipal infrastructure, services and facilities. The project also will provide shelter finance related to housing improvements and micro-enterprise development for the urban poor.

The Philippine Rural Power Project (PRPP) worth P1.89 billion is expected to increase access to electricity services through private sector participation. The project also aims to promote the utilization of new and renewable energy sources (NREs), and achieve the transformation of electric cooperatives (ECs) into more viable and competitive entities.

The two other approved projects include the Judicial Reform Support Project (JRSP) worth P1.29 billion which aims to improve the delivery of judicial services and the administration of justice in the country and the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) worth P446 million which will involve the development of a computerized fingerprint information database that would help assist the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the faster resolution of crimes.