BONTOC, Mountain Province – Nine local road sections in the different parts of this landlocked province will be improved anytime within this year after the provincial government completes all pertinent documentary requirements and concludes appropriate processes required for the implementation of the projects.
Gov. Bonifacio Lacwasan, Jr. said four road projects will be funded under the agriculture department’s foreign-assisted Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP), three projects will be funded from the Kalsada program of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) while two projects will be funded by the Office of the Presidential Advisers on the Peace Process (OPAPP).
Lacwasan disclosed the 4 PRDP projects include the P65 million Banata-Sumey-ang-Sadsadan road which was already issued the appropriate notice-to-proceed by the provincial government; the P92 million Besao-Nacawang road; the P104 million Nacawang-Mabalite road and the P40 million Poblacion-Bantay farm-to-market road in Paracelis
The governor explained the Besao-Nacawang road, Nacawang-Mabalite road and the Poblacion-Bantay farm to market road will still be subject to the regular bidding process pursuant to bidding rules and regulations crafted for the purpose.
On the other hand, Lacwasan added in the pipeline are three road projects under the DILG’s Kalsada program that include the P79 million Sinto-Paktil-Pua road in Bauko; the P70 million Poblacion-Aba-Bacarri road in Paracelis and the P30 million Nacawang-Panabungen-Maliteg road in Besao where pertinent documents are being completed by the provincial government to facilitate the release of the funds for the bidding and implementation of the projects this year.
Under the OPAPP funds for this year, Lacwasan was able to source out some P50 million for the improvement of the Besao, Mountain Province to Tubo, Abra road via Tambuan in Besao; P40 million for the concreting and improvement of the Natonin-Tubyoy provincial road in Natonin and a separate P1.5 million for post-harvest equipment support to agricultural production for Paracelis town.
“We have to work extra hard to facilitate the release of the allocated funds to implement the programmed projects because we really need more funds to improve the infrastructure inter-connecting the rural areas to the urban centers not only of the province but also to the neighboring provinces to enhance the economic activity that translates to improved living conditions of our people,” Lacwasan stressed.
For the PRDP projects that require counterpart funding from the provincial government, the governor reported the province’s counterpart is included in the approved 2017 budget.
Lacwasan claimed he will continue to make representations with concerned government agencies for the allocation of more funds for the implementation of other key infrastructure projects in the other parts of the province to propel overall development and inclusive growth.
By HENT
