P6B for roads, bridges given Bicol–DPWH

LEGAZPI CITY—Bicol received P6.6 billion this year to carry out vital infrastructure projects to boost the region’s economic growth, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said.

Danilo Dequito, DPWH regional director, said the approved funding was 20-percent higher, or P1.1 billion more, than what was given to the region last year.

He said of the fresh funds from the 2013 national budget, P5.3 billion would be spent on projects of the different district engineering offices in six Bicol provinces while P1.3 billion worth of projects would be carried out by the regional office.

Dequito said of the P5.3 billion for the district offices, Camarines Sur would get P1.58 billion, Albay P1.04 billion, Camarines Norte P922.5 million, Catanduanes P681.6 million, Masbate P524.2 million and Sorsogon P520.7 million.

The district funds would be used to, among others, repair and build roads and bridges, maintain roads and build flood control structures like dikes and drainage systems.

He said there are projects being implemented by the DPWH regional office that are not under the district offices in Bicol because these are beyond the scope of district offices.