P221 M released for Baguio calamity rehabilitation projs

By Dexter A. See

BAGUIO CITY -- At least P221 million was released by the national government to fund five high-impact projects here with bulk of the amount to be used to bankroll deferred calamity rehabilitation projects.

Out of the released amount, P121 million will be utilized for calamity projects in the city.

P30 million was partially released to continue the delayed implementation of the 21-km circumferential road project while another P25 million will be used to start declogging of the flood-prone City Camp lagoon.

With the revival of the Japan International Cooperating Agency (JICA) rehabilitation projects after a review by the Department of Public Works and Highways, Rep. Bernardo M. Vergara said government infrastructure previously damaged by natural calamities will be immediately restored purposely to mitigate the occurrence of weather disturbances that could aggravate the situation.

Vergara said the aforesaid funds were sourced out from the calamity fund of the national government and the savings of the DPWH for the rehabilitation of various national roads in the city.

Because of the release of the funds from the concerned government agencies, the lawmaker added a huge portion of his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) this year will be used to fund the implementation of various infrastructure projects in the barangays that will directly benefit local residents.

In addition, Vergara revealed P35 million from his PDAF during the last quarter of 2010 was released and utilized to implement hard and soft infrastructure projects that benefitted a number of barangays.

Among the hard infrastructure projects that are on-going implementation include the construction of the Gibraltar road and repair of the road within Burnham Park as well as the roads within the surroundings of Session road, Magsaysay Road, Malcolm Square, Igorot Garden, Naguilian-Bokoawkan road and Marcos highway-BGH junction flyover.