By Lydia C. Pendon
ILOILO CITY, March 13 (PNA)-– Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson has pledged to finish the rehabilitation and expansion of the national road network in this city and Iloilo province in time for the hosting of a Ministerial Conference of the Asia Pacific Economic Conference (APEC) in October 2015 here.
In his report to the Iloilo business summit held at the Intercontinental Hotel in Makati last March 12, 2014, Singson disclosed a P4.1 billion funding from the national government for Iloilo road projects in the 2014 budget on top of the P31.48 billion investment pledges from seven blue chip corporations of the country.
The funding is already there for the national roads, flood control and convergence program especially with the Department of Tourism (DOT) identified tourism roads to reach the tourists spots and attractions in the region, Singson told the prospective investors of Iloilo.
The DPWH chief also said that Region 6, particularly Iloilo and Region 4-A shared a capital outlay of P12.6B to fund national infrastructures especially the road networks. The National Capital Region remains the biggest beneficiary of infra funds.
Singson also admitted that Senate President Franklin M. Drilon was instrumental in the release of funding for infrastructures in Iloilo and the rest of Western Visayas.
The Iloilo road network is expected to be completed within 2014 including the P1.7 billion circumferential road and the expanded diversion road up to the Iloilo airport in Cabatuan, Iloilo, he said.
Singson said that DPWH recognizes the current business boom of Iloilo City and would want to be a major partner in its economic development by providing the road infrastructures to attract investors and business locators to come to Iloilo.(PNA)