GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/02 February) — The provincial government of South Cotabato has invested a total of P343.6 million last year for the implementation of various vital infrastructure projects.
Marnilo Aperocho, Provincial Engineer’s Office (PEO) chief, said Monday they were able to implement 154 infrastructure projects that were set by local governments as top priorities for funding and development in 2014.
He said 95 of these projects or 61.69 percent were already completed as of the end of the year while 59 others or 36.31 percent are still ongoing.
The official said 92 of the projects involved the construction and repair of buildings or vertical structures like school buildings, gymnasiums and government offices that reached around P99.
4 million.
He said they implemented 28 road-related projects, specifically rehabilitation, upgrading and concreting, worth P191.36 million.
In terms of road repair and maintenance, he said they covered a total 539.20 kilometers of provincial roads last year in the province’s 10 towns and lone city.
Aperocho said the remaining 34 projects involved the construction of six box culverts, four bridges, five drainage and lined canals, three water systems and 16 support structures like flood control and multi-purpose pavements worth a total of P44.84 million.
“We also extended assistance to some national government agencies and barangays through the lending of heavy equipment for the repair and maintenance of barangay roads and other structures,” he said in a statement issued by the Provincial Information Office.
Aside from these, he said they implemented a number of projects assisted by the national government.
These include 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.
To ensure the proper implementation of the province’s infrastructure projects, South Cotabato Gov. Daisy Avance-Fuentes earlier said they have set various reforms in the systems and procedures of its implementing agencies.
She said they have made their bidding processes more transparent and enlisted the participation of various local stakeholders in the monitoring of the implemented projects. (MindaNews)
