TAGBILARAN CITY — Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) SecretaryMark Villar on Saturday said he supports the infrastructure plans of the province of Bohol with a PHP4 billion allotment for 2018.
He gave this assurance at the sidelines of the 121st birth anniversary celebration of President Carlos P. Garcia dubbed in Bohol as “CPG Day.”
Villar was the keynote speaker during the CPG Day celebrations at the Bohol Cultural Center.
He told reporters that the government has earmarked PHP4 billion for Bohol’s infrastructure projects next year.
Most of the projects include the building of road networks leading to the New Bohol Airport in Panglao town which is expected to be completed and operational by second quarter of next year.
Villar said the DPWH has seen the need for more infrastructure projects in Bohol, such as iconic bridges, to support not just the province’s tourism industry but also as economic drivers, especially of agriculture.
Villar said it is necessary to maximize Bohol’s development potential by having more infrastructure.
“Malaki ang (budget) increase sa Bohol para pumasok ang mga investor (There is a huge budget increase for Bohol so that investors will be attracted here),” he said.
Villar, meanwhile, said PHP25 billion has been earmarked for projects in Central Visayas next year.
Most of the funding will go to the master plan projects of every province in the region.
At the same time, Villar allayed fears that the revenue of the government might not be able to support its ambitious “golden age” of infrastructure plan.
He said he is confident the government could afford to build more infrastructures as he is hoping that tax rationalization bill pending in Congress would finally pass.
Once passed, it can fuel the ambitious projects of the government and spur more economic growth. (Dave Albarado/PNA)