MEMBERS of the Regional Development Council (RDC) 7 yesterday endorsed various projects with a combined cost of about P116 billion for inclusion in the 2017 national budget.
Efren Carreon, Central Visayas director of the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda 7) and RDC 7 co-chairman, said he was optimistic that the proposed projects would be included in the budget next year.
He said they have a 100-percent batting average in terms of inclusion in the budget. But the proposed budget for some projects may be cut.
Carreon said the bulk of the 2,189 approved projects came from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH 7), which proposed 783 projects worth P66 billion.
Cebu got the lion’s share of 532 projects worth around P32 billion, including rehabilitation, reconstruction, and upgrading of damaged national roads; road network development and widening; improvement of roads leading to strategic tourism destinations; and flood control and drainage programs.
Also included is the P150-million feasibility study on the integrated road network plan for Metro Cebu as requested by the Mega Cebu Development and Coordinating Board (MCDCB). Other MCDCB proposals, which were not specified but estimated to cost a total of P7.3 billion, were also included.
Public schools in Cebu, Bohol and Siquijor can also expect an upgrade in their classrooms as RDC 7 endorsed a total of 19 projects worth P21 billion proposed by the Department of Education (DepEd 7), which includes additional tables and chairs, textbooks and other learning materials, as well as the hiring of additional teachers.
Also under the social development sector, the Department of Health (DOH 7) proposed 13 projects worth P11 billion, including financial assistance to local government units, and operational expenses of DOH-administered hospitals in the region.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD 7), on the other hand, proposed 10 projects worth P5 billion, which includes the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), social pension for indigent senior citizens, supplementary feeding program, disaster response and emergency assistance program, and bottom-up budgeting, among others.
The economic development sector, which includes the Departments of Science and Technology, Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources, Trade and Industry, proposed a total of 104 projects worth P2.67 billion this year.
Among these are the DENR 7 programs on national greening, forest protection, land survey, protected areas, and biodiversity and good governance worth P771 million.
The development administration sector, which includes the Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Central Command, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Justice, National Police Commission, and NEDA proposed a total of 1,166 projects worth P4.17 billion.
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