By Allen Sam V. Estabillo
GENERAL SANTOS CITY, April 27 (PNA) — The provincial government of South Cotabato has completed around Php47 million worth of priority infrastructure projects in various parts of the province in the first quarter of the year.
Engr. Vicente Ayongao, construction and maintenance division chief of the Provincial Engineer’s Office (PEO), said Monday they accomplished a total of 21 projects that were included in the local government’s infrastructure development and investment program for this year.
He said they specifically finished three projects worth Php2.4 million in January, seven projects worth Php16.33 million in February and 11 more worth Php28.1 million in March.
“These are high-impact projects that are deemed vital to improve the provincial government’s service delivery and implementation of various socio-economic programs,” he said.
The projects were funded under the provincial government’s regular budget and external grants.
The completed projects in January were the gymnasium and stage of the Sto. Nino National High School in Sto. Nino town; stage of Barangay Tinongkop in Tantangan; and, the Alternative Learning System building and stockroom of the South Cotabato provincial jail.
In February, the PEO finished the upgrading of the cash receipts and disbursement counter of the Provincial Treasurers Office; rehabilitation of the New Iloilo–Cabuling road junction in Tantangan; renovation of the supply office and two ward rooms of the Norala District Hospital in Norala; construction of concrete lined canal in Purok San Vicente, Barangay Buto in Tampakan; construction of the conference hall of the Provincial Animal Production and Processing Center in Tantangan; construction of the Lugan Habitat lined canal in T’boli; and, the concreting of the Surallah–Lamian road junction in Surallah.
The 11 projects completed in March were repair of the Barangay Talahik footbridge in Surallah; construction of the Provincial Bamboo Hub Production and Training Center in Surallah; construction of a five-span gym and stage at the Koronadal Central Elementary School–1 in Koronadal City; improvement and expansion of the provincial jail’s function hall; construction of the Klinan hanging bridge abutment protection in Polomolok;
construction of mini-gym in Barangay Tasiman in Lake Sebu; construction of stage in Barangay Improgo, Banga; construction of a two-span gym in Barangay Benigno S. Aquino in Norala; rehabilitation of the Canahay-Sibuyon road and portions of the Sibuyon bridge in Surallah; concreting of national highway-Paraiso-Tinongkop farm-to-market road junction in Koronadal City; and, the concreting of the stage in Barangay Panay in Sto. Nino.
Ayongao said they are currently fast-tracking the implementation of the other identified priority projects to help meet their targets by the end of the year.
He said a total of 24 projects worth Php139.16 million are undergoing implementation within the province’s 10 towns and lone city.
“We’re currently on track towards meeting our targets and we’ve adopted some strategies to ensure that the implementation of the lined up projects will not be delayed or hampered,” he added.(PNA)