Gov’t implements P3-billion infra projects in Cordillera

BAGUIO CITY — At least P3 billion worth of various projects are now being implemented by the Cordillera regional office of the Department of Public Works and Highways in the region to boost economic progress.

Engineer Enrico Guilas, DPWH Cordillera director, said this year’s infrastructure allocation for the six provinces and two cities in the region is over P200 million higher than the budget earmarked for the area last year.

According to Guilas, the P3 billion worth of projects is over and above the P5.2 billion State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) projects released by the Arroyo administration for the rehabilitation of the three-phased Halsema Highway rehabilitation project, and the upgrading of the Bontoc-Tabuk-Tuguegarao Road over the past three years.

Based on the distribution of funding, the Mountain Province Engineering District received the highest allocation with P499.3 million; Kalinga Engineering District – P485.1 million; Abra Engineering District – P423.9 million; Second Ifugao Engineering District – P345.3 million; First Apayao Engineering District – P275.5 million; Second Apayao Engineering District – P251.8 million; Second Benguet Engineering District – P249.8 million; First Benguet Engineering District – P166.9 million; Baguio City Engineering District – P141.9 million; and First Ifugao Engineering District with P117.1 million.

At the same time, Guilas disclosed that the DPWH regional office was given an allocation of P22.5 million specifically for the improvement and upgrading of public buildings.

Despite the billions of pesos of public funds being poured for the development of vital infrastructure projects in the region, the DPWH official said there is need for the upcoming administration to infuse more funding for rehabilitation of more roads to connect the interior parts of the region to urban centers in Northern Luzon which could result to progress and improved living condition for the people living in the countryside.

Guilas said the construction of roads in mountainous terrain is far more expensive than the setting up of roads in lowland communities considering the need to establish other components of the projects such as the strong slope protection walls, carve and gutter, and better drainage systems.

With the near completion of the rehabilitation of the 180-km Halsema Highway and the 203-km Bontoc-Tabuk-Tuguegarao Road, he said other trunklines from the main road to different provinces in the region must be paved to suit the demand of the agriculture sector and tourism stakeholders.— Dexter A. See