ILOILO CITY, July 21 (PNA) -– The expansion of the Coordinating Roads and Investments for Development (CR+ID) project in three provinces of Western Visayas is expected to bring about a road and infrastructure database for the region.
CR+ID, a project supported by the Asia Foundation and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Australian Government, was first implemented in provinces of Guimaras, Negros Occidental and Iloilo.
The first phase culminated in June 30 and will be expanded to already cover Aklan, Capiz and Antique this year.
It is being implemented in partnership with the private sector, specifically with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and the Iloilo Business Club (IBC). Also, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) will serve as institutional partner during the second year.
Lea Lara, IBC executive director, said that of the three provinces covered during the first year, it is Guimaras that has ready road and infrastructure database.
“We would like to come up with a road and infrastructure database for Western Visayas, which is an important milestone in the planning of the region,” she said.
Coming up with the database will involve local planner as it is supposed to be an evidence-based databank. Through this projects that could not be accounted for will be avoided.
During the second year, Lara said that they hoped to “engage/capacitate business associations in provinces to become active” and see them “ work alongside their local government unit heads to share the tool that is being espoused by the CR+ID.”
“Hopefully we can create more participative business and be able to converse with their LGU head to complement local investments that will spur their economy,” she added. (PNA)