By PR | 09:54 PM March 18, 2024
The Regional Development Council of Region VII Central Visayas (RDC 7) gave the green light for the P200 million funding for the master plan and feasibility study Bohol projects.
This was one of the highlights and latest development on Bohol’s commitment to build resilient infrastructure and utilities projects which was tackled during RDC’s first quarter full council meeting held at Social Hall, Cebu Provincial Capitol, on March 14.
The fund will cover 10 big-ticket projects in the province, including wastewater treatment, integrated highway development, light rail transit, the Sabo Dam Flood Control Project, and Bohol Business Park, which is under the Secondary Regional Priority Programs and Projects (PAPs) endorsement.
Completing the list are the Ubay Airport Development Project, Light Industry Economic Zone Development, Bohol-Cebu Friendship Bridge, Bulk Water Supply, and Talibon Cluster Sanitary Landfill.
Bohol Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado, presided over the meeting as RDC chairman.
The approval was given mainly to endorse and approve respective PAPs from different regional agencies, state universities and colleges, and government-owned and controlled corporations for the fiscal year 2025.
These PAPs were already endorsed and evaluated by respective RDC sectoral committees, which strongly support the goals and strategies of the Central Visayas Regional Development Plan, with funding proposed for fiscal year 2025.
In relation to this, RDC 7 will endorse to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. three priority projects in the region for funding allocation, including the feasibility study for the Negros-Cebu-Bohol Friendship Bridge with power, water, and information and communications technology transmission lines, the Metro Cebu Integrated Flood Control and Water Supply Development Program, and the Tamlang Valley Sustainable Agriculture for Growth and Resiliency Project.
It also pitched for a secondary PAP, which is the feasibility and master plan of the Siquijor Airport Development.
Meanwhile, Central Visayas, which comprises Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor, is on the verge of reconstruction, as the senate is one step closer to reality in forming the Negros Island Region (NIR), along with Siquijor Island.
This leaves Cebu and Bohol in the region with a matter of signature from President Marcos to approve Senate Bill No. 2507, which forms the NIR.
Sponsored and co-authored by Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito, the bill received 22 affirmative votes with no negative votes and abstentions.
Regional directors of executive departments, local chief executives, district representatives, heads of national partner agencies, the private sector, and planning offices also attended the meeting. (PiMO/JSS)
