By ANTONIO M. AJERO
DAVAO CITY’s three congressional districts will get a total of P1.6 billion in various infrastructure projects in the national budget for 2013, thanks to the joint efforts of the city’s three House representatives and officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways who helped identify and collaborate on the projects.
This was reported by DPWH 11 Regional Director Mariano “Marnie” Alquiza in a talk with Rotary Club of East Davao which has a mixed membership of Dabawenyos and expatriates when he guested Monday at the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao annex.
Ungab gets bulk
Alquiza said the 3rd district of Rep. Isidro T. Ungab, chairman of the House committee on ways and means and former vice chairman of the appropriations committee.
Alquiza said that while all Davao City residents should be elated by the city’s total P1.6-billion share of the budget, Ungab’s constituents should be happier because they will get the bulk– P742.7 million or 46.21 percent of the share.
This is followed by the 2nd district of Rep. Mylene Garcia-Albano, House deputy majority leader, with P527.7 million, or 32.83 percent, followed by the 1st district under Rep. Karlo Nograles, with P336.6 million, or 20.94 percent.
Alquiza said the infra budget for the 3rd district for next year includes the preventive maintenance and rehabilitation of the Davao-Cotabato Road, the maintenance of the Calinan-Baguio-Cadalian Road, widening of the Davao-Cotabato old road Lubogan section, Lizada section, and Binugao section.
Also to be widened are the Lumondao, Calinan and Tugbok-Mintal sections.
The budget likewise includes payment for the road right-of-way and construction of the Calinan-Toril Road, particularly the Subasta, Tagakpan and Mulig sections.
Declared tourist sites
Road sections in various areas declared tourism sites by the administration of Mayor Sara D. Carpio have also been budgeted for construction and improvement.
The upgrading will affect the following road sections: Lacson-Lamanan-Inayangan-Megkawayan-Mintal-Bago Oshiro, Bago Gallera and Bayabas-Toril.
As a result of the strong representation of Ungab, Alquiza said the Lipadas Bridge II is slated for completion next year.
Details of the projects in the 2nd and 1st districts are available at the DPWH regional and district offices, Alquiza said.
Meanwhile, Rep. Mylene bared that projects covered by the 2013 DPWH budget in the 2nd district include the preventive maintenance and rehabitation of sections of the Rafael Castillo Avenue, Davao City Div. Road, Catitipan-Airport Road and the upgrading of the Mabuhay-Panalum-Paquibato, Fatima-Malabog roads.
These projects and others being planned are results of the joint work of officials and staff personnel of the city government, the DPWH engineering staf and consultations made by the 2nd Congressional district with the people and leaders of the barangays, Rep. Mylene told Edge Davao.
Regional director Alquiza said that all projects included in the 2013 General Appropriations Act should be bidded out by December this year so that implementation will commence during the first quarter of next year.
“This is the new policy issued by DPWH secretary Rogelio Singson,” Alquiza said.
