Cordillera infra allocation set at P2.8 billion next year

BAGUIO CITY -– The national government has earmarked P2.8 billion infrastructure fund which was incorporated in the P1.5 trillion executive budget next year to sustain the continuous development of major Cordillera trunklines that link the interior parts of the region with that of the neighboring Ilocos and Cagayan Valley.

However, next year’s infrastructure allocation is at least 120 percent lower than this year’s P6 billion which was utilized to ensure the continuous funding of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s multi-billion State of the Nation Address (SONA) projects in Mountain Province, Ifugao and Kalinga.

Earlier, the cordillera Regional Development Council (RDC) submitted P6 billion as infrastructure allocation for the region next year so that other undeveloped national roads and secondary national arterial roads will be rehabilitated and upgraded to spur economic development in potential ecotourism and agricultural communities in Abra and Apayao.

Engr. Roy Manao, regional director of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the Cordillera, said the increase or decrease of the region’s infrastructure allocation is dependent on the action of both chambers of Congress on the proposed P1.5 trillion national budget but all sectors are supportive of the increased funding assistance for the people to benefit from better road conditions.

He pointed out the agency is currently working on the feasibility studies of the rehabilitation of the Abra-Kalinga road as well as other secondary national roads in Benguet, Mountain Province, Ifugao and Kalinga for inclusion in whatever funding support that could be secured by the national government from the international community or local initiatives.

According to him, the upgrading of the Cagayan-Apayao-Ilocos Norte road will cost at least P2 billion which is one of the priorities of the RDC-CAR in order to provide easier access for the people in the three provinces located in the northern tip of Luzon.

At the same time, Manao disclosed project implementers of the President’s P5.2 billion SONA projects in the region are now working double time to comply with the prescribed deadline for the completion of the infrastructure works by the end of this year after they had encountered serious setbacks in their assigned projects due to the onslaught of recent typhoons over the past two months.

The on-going SONA projects in the region include the rehabilitation of the Halsema highway, particularly the Mount Data to Bontoc and Bontoc to Banaue sections and the Bontoc-Tabuk-Tuguegarao road.

The DPWH official explained the reduced infrastructure fund allocation for the region is due to the completion of the SONA projects which was the reason why the Cordillera was able to get huge funding in the previous years.

The President, who is expected to spend her Yuletide break in this mountain resort city, will inaugurate her flagship projects that serves as his legacy for the Cordillerans. --Dexter A. See