RDC seeking P5.7B infra projects in CV

The Regional Development Council has endorsed more than P5.7 billion worth of infrastructure projects in Central Visayas for inclusion in the 2007 national budget.

In a special meeting at the regional office of the National Economic Development Authority yesterday, the council's Infrastructure Development Committee, chaired by Emmanuel Rabacal, reported that the region has at least 71 various locally funded projects that mostly include the construction, widening, improvement, upgrading of roads and bridges, and flood control.

Department of Public Works and Highways regional director Robert Lala said that infrastructure projects are a priority under President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's 10-Point Agenda, the Philippine Medium Term Development Plan and the DPWH-Infrastructure Program Act of 1995.

These projects include the improvement of national arterial and secondary roads and bridges, and the construction of flood control projects in major river basins in the country.

Based on the RDC report, Cebu province and city have more than 35 infrastructure projects costing more than P2.9 billion while Bohol has more than 15 projects costing about P1,247,673 billion.

Oriental Negros, on the other hand, has more than 16 infrastructure projects costing some P1,012,408 billion while Siquijor has five projects with a total cost of P72 million.

According to Rabacal, over P2.9 billion of the more than P5.7 billion worth of infrastructure projects in the region are foreign-assisted such as the arterial road links development projects under the Japan Bank International Cooperation for Bohol, Cebu and Oriental Negros, DPWH Bridge Replacement Project under the United Kingdom funding and other Austrian-funded projects. - Gregg M. Rubio