PGMA allots P1.7 trillion for countryside infrastructure
Quezon City (17 October) -- As part of her commitment to improve the lives of Filipinos in the countryside, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said today her administration has allotted P1.7 trillion -- equivalent to 4.45 percent of the country’s economic production -- for the infrastructure projects of the government.
In a roundtable discussion with heads of concerned agencies in Malacanang this morning, the President underscored the need for infrastructure facilities that would fast-track the progress of more barangays and municipalities in far-flung areas.
"Infrastructure facilities are necessary to improve livelihood and uplift the lives of the average Filipino. That is why we are doubling the allocation for infrastructure as what I have stated in my State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) last July," the Chief Executive said.
The President said the money will be spent for the construction and rehabilitation of more airports, ports, national highways that would connect the existing Roll-On, Roll-Off Strong Republic System nautical highway, transportation facilities such as bridges, railroads, power and water facilities.
During the discussion, the President recounted that in the past, the government spent only two percent of the country’s economic production in infrastructure facilities compared to four up to eight percent by neighboring countries.
She stressed that once the infrastructure projects are completed, more jobs will be created in the provinces and the people will directly benefit from them.
"Ang mga liblib na barangay na hindi madala ang ani sa merkado, ang mga pamilyang kailangang mag-igib araw-araw, ang mga walang trabaho dahil walang magtatayo ng pabrika kung walang kuryente – makikinabang kayong lahat sa maraming imprastrakturang itatayo sa mga super region (Far-flung areas which cannot bring their produce to the market, families which need to fetch water everyday, jobless people who can’t find work because nobody wants to build factories because there is no power – all of them will benefit from these projects in the super regions)," the President assured.
"Sa ganitong paraan, lalakas ang kita ng karaniwang Pilipino, lalo na ang nasa lalawigan, giginhawa ang buhay, at dadami ang trabaho (This way, the average Filipino, particularly those in the provinces, will have the opportunity to find jobs)," she added. (PIA) [top]
