P1.34 B allocated for Metro road repairs

The government has allocated P1.34 billion this year for the repair and improvement of nine major roads in Metro Manila, which is part of President Arroyo’s program to decongest the National Capital Region.

This was announced yesterday by House Deputy Majority Leader Eduardo Gullas, representative of the first district of Cebu.

Gullas said the fund would come from the public infrastructure program of the government’s annual budget approved by the House of Representatives last month.

In a statement, Gullas said P400 million, or almost one-third of the proposed budget, would be allotted to the construction, widening, and rehabilitation of the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and roads leading to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

The congressman said P342 million would be allocated for the widening and concreting of R-10 in Manila from C-2 to Zaragosa Street while another P220 million will be spent for the improvement of Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.

Another P100 million would be allotted each for the widening of Quezon Avenue in Quezon City and the construction of C-5 extension from SLEX to Sucat in Parañaque City.

Gullas said the remaining portion of the proposed budget for road projects would be distributed as follows: P95 million for right-of-way in Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City, P30 million for the opening and concreting of Taguig Diversion Road, another P30 million for concreting of Congressional Avenue Extension in Quezon City, and P22 million for right-of-way along C-5 Road-Boni Serrano Avenue Interchange in Quezon City.

The lawmaker stressed that these infrastructure projects are essential in solving the perennial traffic problems in Metro Manila. He appealed to the Senate to find a way to pass the budget by next month.

He added that this year’s infrastructure budget plan also includes P670 million for the widening and concreting of the McArthur Highway, including traffic management in the perennially busy area. Of this amount, he said P240 million would be spent for the sections in Valenzuela City, Caloocan City and Malabon City; P380 million for the portion from Meycauayan, Bulacan to Mabalacat, Pampanga; and P50 million for the segment in Tarlac.

Gullas said it is important for the 2006 budget to be passed so that all these road projects can be sufficiently funded.

However, he said he is confident that Mrs. Arroyo would make funds available for the Metro road projects even under a re-enacted budget.

Gullas noted that even though Congress has yet to pass the 2006 General Appropriations Act, Commonwealth Avenue and Batasan Road are now being widened.

Lawmakers are still on an extended Lenten break and will reconvene on Monday before adjourning again on June 9.

According to the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), the country needs P1.1 trillion worth of fresh investments for new infrastructure between now and 2010. Of this amount, NEDA said P568 million is needed by the transportation sector, mostly in Metro Manila.