(ILAGAN CITY, Isabela) The inauguration of the P772.9-million Lullutan Bridge is just the start of the government scheme to improve the infrastructure of the Cagayan Valley region, President Benigno S. Aquino III said on Tuesday.“Bahagi lamang ang Lullutan Bridge sa malawakan nating inisyatiba na paunlarin ang imprastruktura sa Isabela at sa buong bansa,” President Aquino said in his speech during the event.
He noted that since 2011, the government has released P11.9 billion for the development of Isabela’s infrastructure and irrigation projects.
Among these projects, he said, are the ongoing construction of the Cabagan-Sta. Maria Bridge that will connect Isabela and other municipalities in the Cordillera Administrative Region; and the repair and widening of the Maharlika Highway, National Road 1 or Asian Highway 26.
“Tuloy-tuloy din po ang konstruksiyon natin ng kalsadang magkokonekta sa Daang Maharlika at sa Santiago-Tuguegarao Road sa Santiago City,” he added.
Also part of the government initiative are 59.56 kilometers (km) of farm-to-market roads in the province that have been built and repaired, he said.
“Oras matapos natin ang dagdag pang 15.91 na kilometrong farm-to-market roads dito sa inyo, aabot sa halos 20,000 ang farmer beneficiaries ng probinsiya,” the President said.
He further reported that the government has completed 161 irrigation projects in Isabela, and is working to finish 32 more irrigation projects that would water 146,625 hectares of farmlands and benefit 90,950 farmers.
“Idagdag na rin ninyo diyan ang sinimulan nating Pasa Small Reservoir Irrigation Project. ‘Pag nakumpleto ito sa 2016, inaasahang tataas sa 9,996 metric tons mula sa 555 metric tons ang annual rice production ng Ilagan,” he stated.
Summing up the infrastructure projects in the entire Cagayan Valley region, the President said the government has already begun developing 25.4 km of the first section of the alternate route for Dalton Pass and is studying the extension of the North-South Railway Project that will traverse Isabela as well as the Ilocos and Cordillera regions.
President Aquino said the government aims to increase the budget allocation for national infrastructure development from the present four percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) to five percent next year.
“Dahil nga pinili ng sambayanan ang tuwid na daan, ang mga pangarap na dating nakatiwangwang, isa-isa na pong nating naisasakatuparan. Mula sa pagiging ‘Sick Man of Asia’, ‘Asia’s Rising Tiger’ na ang ating bansa,” he said. PND (as) |