Farflung barangays mostly to benefit from P1.7 trillion infra projects
by T. Villavert
Iloilo City (19 October) -- The country's far-flung areas are focus of the government's P1.7 trillion infrastructure projects which President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo allotted to fast-track the progress of more barangays and municipalities.
"Infrastructure facilities are necessary to improve livelihood and uplift the lives of the average Filipino," President Arroyo said during a roundtable discussion with heads of concerned agencies in Malacanang recently adding that 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.
Doubling the allocation for infrastructure is part of her commitment in her State-of-the-Nation Address to improve the lives of Filipinos in the countryside, the President said.
The President recounted during the said roundtable discussion 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.
"Once the infrastructure projects are completed, more jobs will be created in the provinces and the people will directly benefit from them," President Arroyo concluded.(PIA) [top]
