Government poured P796 million into 4th district

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu fourth district, under the leadership of Rep. Benhur Salimbangon, a known ally of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, received a total of P796 million worth of infrastructure projects from the national government since 2008.

In a “media night out” in Malapascua Island, Daanbantayan town last Tuesday, Arroyo said that her projects that were implemented through Salimbangon compliment her vision for the country especially in the tourism aspect.

When asked on why she is giving a lot of projects to the fourth district, the president smiled and said that her projects are “properly implemented here.”

Salimbangon is thanking Arroyo for giving him her trust and confidence in the implementation of the multi-million infrastructure projects.

The country’s chief executive looked pleased as she gets a briefing on the projects implemented in the district like the P37-million concreting of Maya Port access road, the P87-million concreting of Antonio y de Pio road, the P50 million worth dredging of Hagnaya Port, the P10 million worth roll-on roll-off port expansion and dredging of Sta. Fe port worth P12 million.

Aside from these projects, Salimbangon also told the press in the presence of Arroyo that under his term as congressman, he was able to implement concreting of various roads in the district worth P100 million in 2009 and another P113 million worth of road concreting for this year.

He added that six bridges under the Tulay ng Pangulo program were also constructed in a total of P158 million while a total of P286 million is now underway for the concreting of the district’s remaining national road.

“The fourth district is so fortunate that the president is giving us these projects. We are so fortunate that she gave us the fundings,” Salimbangon said.

After spending a night with the media from Cebu and Manila, the president went diving at the island the following day and inspected the RoRo port Maya, Daanbantayan. The RoRo port is another flagship program of the president.

Arroyo then proceeded to Curva in Medillin where she inaugurated the 6.45 kilometer improvement/concreting of Bogo-Curva-Medillin-Daan Bantayan-Maya Road amounting to P100 million.

According to the Department of Public Works and Highways, the improvement of this road will eventually enhance the quality of life of the people living in the northern towns as this is the only major access connecting the northern part of Cebu to the central business districts of the province as well as the other parts of the island.

DPWH added that the northern part of Cebu, which is known for its white pristine beaches, will become more accessible to tourists that will lead to improvement of the tourism-related activities there.

Arroyo, who has been here for a countless times since she became president, said that Cebu got a big chunk of infrastructure developments projects because she wanted to disperse development outside Manila.

Arroyo said that perhaps she is giving Cebu more projects more than all the past presidents combined.

From northern Cebu, the president made a five-minute stopover in Mandaue City for the inauguration of the newly constructed Pilit Cabancalan-Canduman Bridge at past 12 p.m. yesterday.

Upon her arrival, the president led the unveiling of the project marker together with sixth district Rep. Nerissa Soon-Ruiz, Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes and some DPWH officials.

Cortes told the president that the project is considered a manifestation of her love for the Cebuanos especially the Mandauehanons.

Soon-Ruiz, who is challenging Cortes’ reelection bid in the coming elections, also told Arroyo that the people of Mandaue will forever be grateful to her because she is the only president who fulfilled the dreams of the residents of the two barangays.

The Cabancalan-Canduman bridge project involves the construction of a 40-meter span pre-stressed concrete girder bridge with approaches of 122 meters at Cabancalan side and 138 meters at the Canduman side or a total length of 300 meters.

The bridge width is 7.32 meters while the width of road approaches is 6.70 meters. The project has an appropriation of P48 million but the actual project contract is P30,408,896.66 and was completed last December 5, 2009.

The completion of the project will help reduce the traffic congestion in both Cabancalan and Canduman areas where the Sacred Heart School of the Society of Jesus is relocated.

The bridge will also serve as an alternate route from Mandaue City for motorists going to Cebu city.—Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon and Flor Z. Perolina/WAB (THE FREEMAN)