Gov’t earmarks P53B for public infra in 2004

The National Government intends to spend a total of P52.9 billion next year for the construction of new public infrastructures and the rehabilitation of existing ones.

Senate Majority Leader Loren Legarda said that of the P52.9 billion, some 58 percent or P30.5 billion will be used to co-finance the implementation of foreign-assisted projects (FAPs).

Legarda said P23.7 billion will be used to build, rehabilitate and pave 30,509 kilometers of roads and to construct, replace or repair 13,753 linear meters of bridges, including flyovers, interchanges and overpasses.

She said around P5.3 billion will finance the construction, expansion and upgrading of 1,519 facilities that are meant to the soften the adverse effects of flooding, particularly in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Pangasinan and the Agusan provinces.

These projects include the P889.9-million Mt. Pinatubo Hazard Urgent Mitigation Project, the P550-7-million Lower Agusan Development Project Stage I (Phase II) and the P534.7-million Agno and Allied Rivers Urgent Rehabilitation Project (Phase I).

The transportation and communications sector will also get its share of the allocation for public infrastructure, Legarda said.

She said P858.8 million will be spent to modernize the country’s airports, while another P402.8 million will be used to build up seaports.

The transport sector FAPs that will get fresh funding include the P500-million Maritime Safety Improvement Project Phase C, the P457.5-million New Iloilo Airport Development Project, the P292-million Maritime Safety Improvement Project Phase IV and the P302.8-million Social Reform Related Feeder Ports Project.

Meanwhile, Legarda said agriculture-related public works projects will likewise get new funding, to include P4.8 billion for irrigation systems, particularly in Pampanga, Northern Leyte, Bohol and other farming provinces and P1.3 billion for new farm-to-market roads.

"We expext next year’s spending (for public infrastructures) to help prime the economy and create badly needed new jobs," Legarda said.

"The spending for agricultural facilities in particular should help boost farm productivity and raise rural incomes," she added.