(ROMBLON, Romblon) President Benigno S. Aquino III on Friday led the inauguration of government’s infrastructure projects here in the province of Romblon.
President Aquino conducted an aerial inspection of a road section of the Romblon-Sawang-Agpanabat Provincial Road here. During his speech, the President said local residents, including fishermen, would benefit from the project.
Travel time along the road will be cut from one hour to 30 minutes, the Chief Executive said. “Dagdag na benepisyo din ang hatid nito para sa mga mangingisdang maibibiyahe ang kanilang produkto nang mas sariwa sa pamilihan,” he said.
“Bukod dito, mas mabilis at ligtas na ring makapaglaklakbay ang mga estudyanteng papasok sa paaralan, ang mga kababayan nating magpapatingin sa ospital, at ang iba pang serbisyo para sa pag-asenso ng komunidad,” he added.
President Aquino said the approved budget for the project was P61.89 million. “Pero dahil sa maayos at tapat na proseso ng bidding, ang tinatayang magagastos lang natin ay nasa P56.63 million,” he said.
The project is expected to be finished by March.
While in Romblon, President Aquino also led the ceremonial unveiling of the marker of Buildings I and II of the Romblon Provincial Hospital (RPH). The upgraded RPH, located in Odiongan, serves 17 municipalities with a population of around 350,000.
“Nagtayo tayo rito ng mga bagong gusali, at nagdagdag ng mga modernong kagamitan para sa mas malawak at mas epektibong serbisyong medikal,” the President said.
The Chief Executive said the hospital was upgraded under the Health Facilities Enhancement Program of the Department of Health.
During his speech, President Aquino also enumerated other ongoing projects intended to improve accessibility and to boost trade and tourism.
The President cited the Sibuyan Circumferential Road, the San Jose Circumferential Road, the Sta. Fe-Guinbirayan Provincial Road and the Romblon-Cogon-Sablayan Road.
He also mentioned the government’s Sitio Electrification Program. “Sa inisyatibang ito, libo-libong sitio sa iba’t ibang panig ng bansa ang ating binibigyang-liwanag,” he said.
“Halimbawa po, balita sa atin, dito sa Romblon: Sa target nating 454 na sitio, nasa 315 na ang ating napailawan. Makakaasa po kayo: makukumpleto nating bigyan ng kuryente ang nalalabing mga sitio sa lalong madaling panahon,” he added.
President Aquino also mentioned the onging rehabilitation of Tablas Airport in Alcantara and the ports in Magdiwang, San Fernando, Sta. Fe, and Alcantara.
On agricultural front, the President said the repair and rehabilitation of the irrigation facilities in San Fernando and Looc was completed in 2013 and 2014, respectively.
“Panatag po ang loob nating magbuhos ng pondo para sa imprastruktura dahil alam nating bukal ito ng paglago ng ekonomiya. Kapag mas maayos ang kalsada, mas mabilis ang takbo ng mga produkto at serbisyo patungo sa merkado; mas lalago ang negosyo, na siya namang lumilikha ng trabaho, at nagbubukal ng malawakang kaunlaran,” he said. PND (co) |