CLARK FREEPORT– The provincial government under the leadership of Governor Lilia Pineda has spent at least P1.2 billion pesos for the various infrastructure projects in the province.
This was announced by Pineda during the oath-taking of the officers of Provincial Federation of Barangay Health Workers dubbed as “Bayanihan Para Sa Kalusugan Ng Mga Kapampangan” held at Stotsenberg Hotel here.
“Since we assumed as governor of Pampanga, we have funded major infrastructure projects like construction and renovation of district hospitals, construction of classroom buildings in different public schools and provincial, municipal and barangay farm to market roads,” Pineda bared.
However, she clarified that the provincial government still has P1-billion -enough to fund other equally important projects intended for the development of the province and upliftment of the way of life of the Kapampangans.
Hospital buildings
The provincial government since day one of the incumbent governor has started the general renovation and improvement of all existing district hospital buildings in the province including facilities and medical equipments.
“In the improvement of our district hospitals, we are 85 percent completed, the governor said.
The Capitol has also funded the establishment of dialysis centers in selected district hospitals aimed at providing cheaper treatment for dialysis patients.
The dialysis centers were realized through partnership with private individuals and companies who are helping the governor through the provision of dialysis machines under a co-management agreement.
Classrooms and covered courts
As of this month, at least 182 newly classrooms and six covered courts in various public schools in the province had been constructed with an estimated amount of P176-million.
For 2011 alone, records from the Provincial engineering Office (PEO) shows that the provincial government released P50, 083, 216 for the construction of 45 new rooms; repair and improvement of 32 classrooms and building of 5 covered courts.
This year, P54, 149,836 has been allocated to finance the construction of 28 new classrooms, repair and improvements of 77 classrooms and one covered court.
Engr. Olimpio Pangan, an engineer from the PEO, earlier told Sun Star Pampanga that at least thirty five classrooms amounting to P62.5 million and another P9.7 million for the construction of boys and girls comfort rooms for 26 public schools were still on-going.
Roads and slope protection
The provincial government through the PEO has facilitated the reconstruction several provincial roads in flood hit municipalities as damaged and destroyed by recent calamities.
Other infrastructure projects finished were the improvement of dikes particularly in Mandili, Candaba and San Sebastian, San Luis town.
The Pampanga River Dike road Batasan-Candating section in Arayat, San Nicolas 1st barangay road in Sasmuan, Phase 11 of Guagua-Sta. Rita-Porac road San Matias and Becuran section, Phase IV Dila-dila section both in Sta. Rita, and Phase V Dila-dila-Pulong Santol section in Sta.Rita-Porac were also completed.
The widening of San Miguel-Sta.Cruz barangay road in San Simon and reblocking and asphalt overlay of Sto. Domingo-Lourdes-San Isidro-Telacsan-Colgante provincial road from Minalin to Apalit and Macabebe.
The Provincial Government also completed the improvement and concreting of the provincial road in San Juan-San Jose-Natividad-Lambac-Pulong Masle road Lambac section in Guagua, San Matias-San Simon road San Matias section in Sto. Tomas, and Del Rosario-Bacolor road in the City of San Fernando, Sta. Ana Magalang along San Agustin section and in San Sebastian San Luis.
Development funds for municipal infrastructure
Last year, after Typhoon Pedring devastated the province, Governor Pineda has provided at least P80 million for the priority development projects of each of the 20 municipalities in the province.
This is intended to jump start the reconstruction and rehabilitation of damaged infrastructure facilities and their projects highly needed in the municipality.
Recently, the provincial government has given again all local government units some P100-million to finance various priority development projects.
Each municipality received at least P5-million to ensure the continuity of infrastructure development down to the barangay level.
By Joel P. Mapiles, PIO Pampanga
