Cebu to get lion’s share of DPWH regional budget

About half of every peso allotted for road projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Central Visayas next year will go to Cebu.

Ador Canlas, DPWH regional director, told subdivision developers yesterday that Cebu will get around P9 billion out of the department’s proposed P16.7-billion budget for the region next year.

But the budget for Cebu is only 3.3 percent of the total P268.4 billion programmed for DPWH’s road projects nationwide next year.

Public Works and Highways Regional Director Ador Canlas answers questions during a June 2014 forum in Cebu City.

Congressmen have approved the P3-trillion budget submitted by the executive department for next year. The budget is set to be presented for approval by the Senate.

Canlas said Cebu may be looking at a “dramatic increase” in infrastructure projects next year.

He said Cebu City is among three growth areas identified by the DPWH in the region. The two others are Bohol and Mactan.

For this year, Canlas said Cebu was allotted only P7 billion out of the P12.9 billion DPWH budget for the region.

“We are aiming to complete the paving of all national roads. We are also looking at asset preservation or maintenance of the national roads, road rehabilitation, and the expansion or widening of roads,” Canlas said during the housing summit organized by the Subdivision and Housing Developers Association yesterday.

There are 42 ongoing major projects in Central Visayas, including road improvements in Medellin town in northern Cebu, N. Bacalso Avenue to Cebu South Properties Road, first Mandaue-Mactan Bridge, Marcelo Fernan Bridge and the Mactan Circumferential Road.

Other projects in Central Visayas include Panglao Circumferential road, Tagbilaran North and Bypass roads, Dumaguete north and south roads, and the road opening of metro Dumaguete.

Of the 42 projects, nearly half of the road projects have been completed, said Canlas.

“Our target is to finish at least 85 percent of the projects. The remaining projects will carry over in 2016,” he added.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama complained last August that the Cebu City government has not been getting any major infrastructure project from the national government.

Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson refuted this, saying Cebu City received P5.8 billion worth of projects. This was the biggest share among the 7 DPWH engineering districts in Cebu.

Cebu province received about half of the P42 billion budget for Central Visayas from 2011 to 2015, he added.

Canlas said infrastructure spending is expected to increase next year.

“Slow public spending is one of the concerns of the government. However, we have more funds available now than before,” he said.

A more pressing concern is the capability of the construction industry to keep up, he added.