Road works, schools prioritized in 4th district

CEBU, Philippines - After teachers of the Malingin Elementary School in Bogo complained the said school needs immediate repair as they are afraid for the safety of the pupils, officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways received instruction to prepare a program and cost estimate for repair works.

Teachers expressed their concern on safety to Cebu fourth district Rep. Benhur Salimbangon when the congressman paid the school a visit recently.

Also, its Home Economics Building aside from its adjacent buildings used as classrooms needs the most immediate attention.

The lack of classrooms as well as the state of dilapidated buildings in some towns in the said district alerted teachers who worry about the safety of the pupils.

However, Salimbangon with the help of the provincial government of Cebu have made it a point to prioritize the rehabilitation and construction of school buildings. In fact, the Tominjao National High School in Daanbantayan town has a new two-classroom building funded by the Priority Development Assistance Fund of Salimbangon.

Also, a two-classroom building of the Doong National High School on an island barangay of Bantayan town was inaugurated.

Meanwhile, projects worth close to half-a-billion pesos were implemented in the district, of which a big share of the pie was allocated for the asphalting and concreting of town roads including those in Bantayan Island.

A copy of the accomplishment report of the DPWH furnished to The FREEMAN showed that of the total amount, P100 million was allocated for the concreting of roads starting in barangay Don Pedro in Bogo to barangay Curva in Medellin.

The six-kilometer road concreting project is expected to be completed before the end of this year.

Most of these infrastructure projects implemented by the DPWH are meant for the improvement of farm-to-market roads being a priority.

In Daanbantayan, Salimbangon allocated close to P50 million for the implementation of projects based on the needs of the said municipality.

It was learned that P20 million was allocated for the concreting and improvement of the access road leading to the Roro (roll-on roll-off) Port in barangay Maya, Daanbantayan.

Another P15 million was allocated for the upgrading, from gravel to paving, of the Bogo-Curva-Medellin-Daanbantayan-Maya road; rehabilitation of barangay Bitoon road, road opening of barangay Dalingding Norte, and the completion of the multipurpose building at the Maya Port.

P10 million was allocated for rehabilitation works on barangay roads in the towns of Bantayan, Bogo, Madridejos, Medellin, San Remigio, Sta. Fe, Tabogon, and Tabuelan.

Further, close to P10 million was set aside for the construction and or rehabilitation of flood control structures as well as the construction of a multipurpose center in Daanbantayan, San Remigio, Tabogon, Madridejos, and Sta. Fe.

In Tabuelan town, more than P10 million was spent for the opening of roads, construction of drainage systems, concreting of the terminal road, and repair of schools.

Part of the PDAF of Salimbangon was released through the Departments of Agriculture and Trade and Industry as well as the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority for the implementation of various livelihood projects beneficial to farmers, fishermen and the cooperatives.

The rest of the funds were spent for the purchase of mini-ambulances for all barangays in the fourth district. — Jose P. Sollano/MEEV   (FREEMAN NEWS)