LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Rep. Ronald M. Cosalan wants bigger fund allocations for the numerous development projects and basic services in the province in next year’s annual budget to further advance the province’s economic growth.
The three-term lawmaker said compared to the P2.95 billion allocation that the province got from the infrastructure funds of the national government this year, he will make the appropriate representations with the Department of Public works and Highways (DPWH) central office for a bigger allocation to complete the rehabilitation and upgrading of all national roads in the province.
Based on earlier reports, the national government is planning to peg the 2018 budget 12 percent higher than this year’s P3.6 trillion appropriation to realize the government’s plan of improving the overall development of the country under the policy of inclusive growth.
Aside from the huge allocation that the province got from the DPWH, Cosalan assured his constituents that he will also work out increases in the allocation for health services, scholarships, livelihood assistance, farm-to-market roads, among others, to help increase the assistance to needy residents from his office.
“We are optimistic that we will be able to work out bigger allocations for Benguet during the upcoming budget deliberations so that our people will continue to reap the fruits of development through better condition of roads, bigger assistance for farmers, among others, to help them improve their living condition,” Cosalan stressed.
He added the rehabilitation and upgrading of national roads paved the way for the significant reduction of travel time from the farms to the trading center in La Trinidad and the lesser transport cost of agricultural crops which resulted to at least increased income for the farmers.
According to him, he will try to make representations with the agriculture department to increase Benguet’s allocation for farm-to-market roads that will interconnect with the improved national roads thus improving the interconnectivity of the farms and the market resulting to increased quality of agricultural crops that command a higher buying price in the markets.
Cosalan expressed concern over the increasing number of dialysis patients seeking financial assistance from his office, thus, he will make the necessary representations with the health department to increase the funds earmarked for health aid in his office and provide more dialysis machines to the different provincial hospitals around the country to lessen the impact of dialysis treatment to the family members and relatives of the patients.
He assured the people of Benguet that he will continue to closely work with officials of relevant government agencies to increase the provision of financial and technical assistance to the people to improve their living condition.
By HENT