Gov’t to disburse P141.8B for infra work

Sailors from the USS Blue Ridge and the Philippine navy paint and repair classrooms at the Sto. Nino Elementary School in Manila on February 14, 2011, during Valentine’s Day. Classrooms and other education facilities are among the infrastructure projects lined up by the government in 2012. The Department of Budget is to release P141.8 billion to fund these projects. AFP PHOTO / JAY DIRECTO

The budget department will soon release P141.8 billion to fund various infrastructure projects related to transportation, farming, classrooms and flood control systems.

Budget Secretary Florencio B. Abad said in statement that the entire fund would be issued this month to the implementing agencies to enable them to immediately initiate their respective projects.

In fact, Abad said, many of the projects have already gone through the auction process short of being awarded.

About 93 percent, or 2,025 of 2,187 line-item infrastructure projects nationwide that are funded with the 2012 budget, will be given notice to proceed within the first quarter, the budget chief added.

Projects that have been lined up include national roads and bridges; airports, seaports and lighthouses; classrooms and other education facilities; potable water supply systems, irrigation and post-harvest facilities; and flood-control and slope-protection structures.

Abad explained that the P141.8 billion made up 78 percent of the total P182.2 billion allotted for government infrastructure under the 2012 national budget.

“It is 25.6 percent higher than the 2011 allocation and represents 1.6 percent of gross domestic product compared to 1.4 percent in 2011,” he said.

Of the amount slated for release, the Department of Public Works and Highways would get the lion’s share with P91.57 billion for roads, bridges and flood-control projects, including expenses for right of way.

The Department of Agriculture will get P24.49 billion, while the Department of Agrarian Reform will receive P3.31 billion—all for farm-to-market roads, post-harvest facilities, and facilities for potable water supply and irrigation.

Likewise, the Department of Interior and Local Government has P770 million for projects related to potable water supply, in line with Malacañang’s priority program of providing people access to safe drinking water.

Also, the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao will get P356.9 for roads, bridges and water supply systems throughout the region.

The Department of Education will receive P13.97 billion for the construction, repair and rehabilitation of classrooms, including the public school system’s water and sanitation facilities.

The Department of Transportation and Communications has P7.2 billion for the improvement of airports, particularly their sanitation facilities, as well as for the construction and rehabilitation of seaports and lighthouses.

Finally, the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission has P107.96 million for the rehabilitation and development of the Pasig River and its tributary waterways.