Dumaguete City, Philippines — After the much talked-about affiliation of Governor Roel Degamo to the administration political party, indications are high that it is going to happen but not without a reason.
In yesterday's courtesy call by the newly-assumed commander of the Central Command Major General Nicanor Vivar, Degamo intimidated his desire to be with the party that can provide his people with the much needed projects and development that can uplift their living condition.
The governor told Vivar only the present administration can provide the province of Negros Oriental with his request to fund the construction of a road network that traverses the Tamlang Valley, which was declared before as a zone of peace.
Degamo disclosed that provincial engineers are done with the project proposal to construct a P200-million road network crisscrossing the hinterland barangays of at least five municipalities from Nagbagang to Kakha, Avocado in Santa Catalina, going to Siaton, Dobdob in Valencia, Enrique Villanueva and Calinawan in Sibulan to Pamplona.
Box culverts will be constructed in creeks that will be traversed by the road network.
The governor expects the road network to spur development in the area covered by the project to include the more than 17,000 hectares of Tamlang Valley, 10,000 hectares of which were leased before by former third district representative Herminio "Meniong" Teves for the Jathropa project but was a failure.
For his part, Vivar has expressed full support to the governor's project proposal and assured him of his endorsement to concerned agencies in government for funding support, like the Department of Interior and Local Government, the Department of Agriculture and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Vivar said in many instances, where roads are present, the insurgency problem is being addressed because farmers will now have the opportunity to bring their produce to the low lands, government will be closer to the people, and that bayanihan activities of the army will be sustained in these areas.
It is also the dream of the newly-assumed Concentcom and of Governor Degamo to achieve the dream of zero insurgency during their stints.
Degamo was also hoping the other half of the P961-million calamity fund will be returned to the provincial coffers in citing a Supreme Court ruling that government cannot any more take back funds that were issued notice of cash allocations like in the case of Negros Oriental.
Vivar was accompanied by 302nd Brigade Commander Colonel Alan Martin, Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office director Senior Superintendent Mariano Natu-el Jr. and General Labador of Concentcom. (FREEMAN)