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DPWH Regional Director Orlando B. Roces (center) with Construction Division chief Godofredo Beltran (right) and Planning Division chief Eduardo Talastas (left). |
Acting promptly on a request by PENINSULA MONITOR, DPWH Regional Director Orlando B. Roces Thursday, August 16 directed the Maintenance Department of the DPWH Regional Office to release its master list of projects undertaken under the much publicized Php 7 billion rehabilitation fund allocated by Malacañang for the Bicol Region.
But the list totaled only Php 1.325 billion and did not include big dredging or desilting projects to which the bulk of the fund was believed channeled.
On her last State of the Nation Address last July 23, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo mentioned only two significant accomplishments of the national government for Bicol: the proposed revival of the Bicol River Basin Development Program to be funded by the World Bank and the unprecedented Php 7 billion rehabilitation fund for the region after two successive disastrous typhoons last year.
Many raised eyebrows, however, on the manner with which the huge fund is being spent.
Among those who complained was former Albay Gov. Fernando Gonzales who was still governor when the allocation was firmed up but who obviously had little or no prerogative in the identification of projects. He had been reported by broadcast media as having criticized huge desilting, dredging and flood control projects which he believed were unnecessary and intended to financially benefit only a few people. Albay mayors, in fact, had asked that rehabilitation project funds be directly entrusted to LGUs.
Director Roces explained to PENINSULA MONITOR that projects were implemented by various highway district engineers’ offices and not by the DPWH regional office.
Of the Php 1.325 billion already allocated or spent from the Php 7 billion fund, Albay had Php 900 million, Camarines Sur Php 180 million, Masbate, Php 85 million, Catanduanes, Php 70 million, Sorsogon, Php 60 million and Camarines Norte only Php 30 million.
Hereunder are Albay rehabilitation projects. Projects of other Bicol provinces will be published next issue.
BICOL REHABILITATION PLAN FOR INFRASTRUCTURE REGION V
Source of Fund: CARE (Infrastructure)
Implementing Agency: DPWH
ALBAY
