5 bridges up for funding

CEBU, Philippines - At least five bridges worth P195 million under the “Tulay ng Pangulo para sa Kaunlarang Pang-Agraryo” program for Cebu City are endorsed for funding by the Central Visayas Regional Development Council.

These bridges approved under the “Bridges for Prosperity Acceleration Program” of President Gloria Arroyo are the Dita-Sirao Bridge to be constructed on the city’s mountain barangay of Sirao, the Guadalupe-Sapangdaku and Baksan Bridges in barangay Sapangdaku, the Tagba-o Bridge in barangay Tagba-o, and the Bonbon-Camarin Bridge in barangay Bonbon.

The five bridges are all under the Cebu City South District of Rep. Antonio Cuenco.

Economic Development Committee chairperson Ernesto Quiamco, who sponsored the resolution during the 3rd RDC General Council meeting last Friday, said that the project is for the agrarian reform communities funded under the Agrarian Reform Program.

Quiamco said that construction or rehabilitation of bridges as well as other key support services would promote sustainable livelihood in the areas.

“The project aims to increase household income through better rural infrastructure for the mobility and access of goods and services supportive of economic development,” Quiamco said in his resolution.

The resolution was approved in the annual general assembly last Friday held at the Oriental Negros Provincial Convention Center in Dumaguete City.

The RDC is chaired by Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia. It accepted the endorsement as it found the projects to be supportive of the thrust of the region specifically in the provision of farm-to-market roads.

Aside from Cebu City, the project is also proposed for implementation in five sites in Oriental Negros, two in Siquijor, and 21 in Bohol province. The project would cost an estimated P1.313 billion. — Garry B. Lao/MEEV(THE FREEMAN NEWS)