In
the heels of a well-received State of the Nation Address,
the governors now want to know what happens next, and what
about those impact projects not mentioned in Pres. Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo’s Sona.
The league, during its 11th General Assembly last August
2, invited the national government’s economic and
technical managers to discuss the mechanisms and timetables
for the implementation of the major projects outlined by
the President in her SONA.
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Gov.
Carmencita Reyes
Marinduque |
 |
Gov.
Antonio Kho
Masbate |
 |
Gov.
Rolando Yebes
Zamboanga del Norte |
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Gov.
Ben Loong
Sulu |
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Gov.
Teresita Lazaro
Laguna |
In
the course of the discussions with the officials of the
DOTC, DPWH and the DBM, the governors were able to air out
some of their concerns on impact projects for their respective
provinces but were not mentioned during the SONA.
Gov. Carmencita Reyes of Marinduque clarified that the Marinduque
ROR”o port has been operational since 1988. Among
the immediate concerns of the province, however, is to reclassify
some of the provincial roads into national roads because
the provincial government cannot.
Masbate Gov. Antonio Kho also pointed out the need to source
the funds to develop the Port of Aroroy, especially now
that the province is developing into a tourism capital for
rodeo.
Based on the presentation made by the DPWH, the funds for
the Placer-Masbate-Lagta-Baleno-Aroroy Highway have still
to be sourced out.
Gov. Rolando Yebes of Zamboanga del Norte also noted that
while they were given P30 million to jumpstart the Coastal
Road in Zamboanga, the presentation made by the DPWH indicates
that the funds for the project still have to be sourced.
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DPWH
Sec. Hermogenes Ebdane |
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DPWH
USec. Manuel Bonoan |
Public
Works and highways Sec. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., however,
assured that the project will push through and that the
initial funds released was just intended to jumpstart it.
On the other hand, Gov. Ben Loong of Sulu lamented that
his province is not included in the list of projects either
for airports, roads or ports.
Usec. Manuel Bonoan, however, assured Gov. Loong that the
DOTC has lined up the Province of Sulu in the nautical highway,
and the DPWH will be submitting the plans for the national
roads there.
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Gov.
Tommy Joson
Nueva Ecija |
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Gov.
Chavit Singson
Ilocos Sur |
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Gov.
Orlando Fua, Sr.
Siquijor |
Laguna
Gov. Teresita Lazaro also lamented that there was no mention
of Laguna in the priority projects of the DPWH, although
the province needs wider bridges. She wanted to know whether
there have already been funds allocated for the three national
bridges in Laguna, as well as the widening of the road from
Calamba to Los Baños. She said that the provincial
government is undertaking the maintenance of some national
roads, especially those main arteries.
Gov.
Tomas Joson proposed that for those who can afford it, the
provincial government advance the cost of the project, and
let the DPWH reimburse it, through a memorandum of agreement.
Furthermore, Ilocos Sur Gov. Chavit Singson suggested that
the governors bring along their respective congressmen to
ensure funding support.
Although Gov. Kho proposed that the league enter into a
MOA with DPWH relative to this, Sec, Ebdane said the agreement
has to be with the individual provinces, and it would be
based on a specific project which the national government
has already previously identified a funding source for it.
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Gov.
Adolph Edward Plaza
Agusan del Sur |
Meanwhile,
Siquijor Gov. Orlando Fua Sr. lamented over what he perceives
as discrimination over the airport projects, because although
the national government is building new airports, the airport
and runway in his province has not been repaired since 1959.
Gov. Plaza also shared that the runway in the Butuan Airport
already needs repair, while Davao del Norte Gov. Elena Palma-Gil
requested Usec. Robert Castañares of the DOTC to
relay to Sec. Mendoza that the Lupon Airport has already
become a playground for children. (AJS)
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