GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews / 11 August) — The provincial government of South Cotabato has invested around P386 million in the last 12 months for the implementation of various priority infrastructure projects.
South Cotabato Governor Daisy Avance-Fuentes said Monday the funds were utilized for the construction, repair and rehabilitation of 209 projects that were identified as vital for the province’s bid to become a key economic player in Mindanao and in the entire country within the next decade.
“These are projects that we prioritized to help push further our continuing economic expansions and development,” she said in her state-of-the-province address held at the provincial gymnasium in Koronadal City.
The governor said the local government spent around P155.9 million for building or vertical projects, P120.6 for flood control structures and 109.6 million for the upgrading and concreting of provincial roads.
She said they implemented 143 building projects, 24 roads and bridges and 42 flood-control and related structures.
Under the building component, they invested P73.6 million for the completion of the provincial capitol’s Finance building, which hosts its finance-related offices and departments.
She said part of the structure will later host the offices of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial board).
Fuentes said they also spent P28.4 million for the repair and rehabilitation of 19 school buildings; P22.4 million for the construction and repair of barangay health stations, dietary section of the provincial hospital and parts of the South Cotabato sports complex; P18 million for the construction and repair of barangay gymnasiums; P7.4 million for the construction of multi-purpose buildings; and, P6 million for the construction, repair and completion of eight barangay halls.
For the flood-control projects, she said they have completed 11 control structures and 14 drainage canals with a total length of 2,566 lineal meters.
Aside from these, Fuentes said they implemented a number of projects assisted by the national government.
She cited the P19.5 million farm-to-market road project that connected various agribusiness areas in Tupi and Banga towns; P58 million local health facilities projects; P10.9 million for six bridge projects; P17 million for five box culverts; and, P4.5 million for multi-purpose pavements.
For this year, the governor said the local government has allotted an additional P25 million for the province’s Finance building project and P23 million for various barangay-based projects.
Of the P23 million allocation for barangay projects, she said P20 million will come from its barangay assistance fund while the P3 million will come from its rural development support infrastructure program.
To ensure the proper implementation of the province’s infrastructure projects, Fuentes said they are currently setting various reforms in the systems and procedures of its implementing agencies.
She added that they have made their bidding processes more transparent and enlisted the participation of various local stakeholders in the monitoring of the implemented projects. (MindaNews)
