Engr. Pablo Nohay, chair of Pilar Sangguniang Bayan (SB) infrastructure committee told The STAR that a three-year socio-economic development plan is now completed to effectively meet the challenge of the fast-growing fourth class municipality for more facilities for the residents and investors.
Nohay, a former president of Bataan Engineers and Constructors Association and Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) Bataan Chapter, said that the program will address the delivery of basic services to 35,000 population and improvement of business climate.
These projects include the construction of three reinforced concrete and steel bridges connecting the town to the newly-established component city of Balanga worth P300 million; a new public market, P32 million; Bataan provincial hospital, P40 million; a four-storey hotel and restaurant; P24 million; farm-to-market road P3.5 million; a fishport, P3 million; and other agricultural projects to further improve food production in upland barangays.
In a related development, Nohay said that a major tourism development program to encourage local and foreign visitors is in the blueprint stage.
The influx of tourists during the Araw ng Kagitingan should give opportunities to small entrepreneurs to produce souvenir items and other local delicacies. He said that about 10,000 visitors come to the historic World War II site yearly.