President Benigno S. Aquino III leads the inaugural drive-through at the completed Ninoy Aquino Bridge and its Connecting Road Networks in Barangay San Luis, Tuao, Cagayan on Monday, August 18, 2014. Malacanang Photo Bureau / Ryan Lim
MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino III on Monday showed off one of the fruits of the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP): a bridge and its connecting road networks in Tuao, Cagayan.
The inauguration of the bridge came amid his shaky relationship with the Supreme Court, which declared the DAP partly unconstitutional.
Aquino said that the bridge, which will speed up the flow of transportation and commerce in the province, was first envisioned in 1968. It was only under his administration that the government was able to raise P599.4 million for its construction.
“Ang inilaan namang P145 million para sa ikaapat na bahagi ng proyekto, nagmula po sa Disbursement Acceleration Program,” he said.
“Hindi lang po natin nagawang ilaan sa mas episyenteng paraan ang pondo; dahil sa maayos na pangangasiwa ni Kalihim Babes Singson at ng DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways), ito po ay nakatipid pa tayo ng P33.7 million.”
(The P145 million allotted for the fourth part of the project came from the Disbursement Acceleration Program. We were not only able to allocate the funds to a more efficient project, through the supervision of Secretary Rogelio “Babes” Singson of the Department of Public Works and Highways, it was able to save P33.7 million.)
Missing link
Aquino said the 360-lineal meter permanent bridge in San Luis village would serve as the inter-regional link for Regions I, II and Cordillera.
He said that together with the other projects in the first class municipality the proposed “Ninoy Aquino Bridge” will help reduce the travel time across the regions. Traveling from Tuao to Kabugao, Apayao will now last around two and a half hours, a great improvement compared to the four to five hours allotted in the past.
“Magpapasigla rin sa turismo ang pagbubukas ng mga ruta patungo sa iba’t ibang tourist destinations sa inyong lalawigan, tulad ng Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Piat na tinatawag na Pilgrimage Center of the North; ang Tuao Belfry, Lallayug Forest Park, at Cassily Lake,” he said.
(It will also boost tourism as we open new routes to different tourist destinations such as the Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Piat dubbed as the Pilgrimage Center of the North; the Tuao Belfry, Lallayug Forest Park, and Cassily Lake.)
The President said this will in turn spur the growth and establishment of businesses in the localities.
He added that the bridge could also serve as an alternative route in case nearby rivers overflow because of bad weather.
Straight path
Aquino said the bridge is a concrete example of his administration’s projects that result in significant transformation.
“Isinusulong natin ang mga tamang proyekto na tama ang kalidad, sa tamang halaga, at natatapos sa tamang oras dahil itinalaga natin ang mga tamang tao,” he said, referring to his “Tuwid na Daan (Straight Path)” campaign.
(We are pushing for quality projects that are bought at the right price and constructed on time because we assigned the right people.)
Aquino said they have already proposed a budget of P562.35 billion for the construction of infrastructure in 2015.
Remembering Ninoy, Robredo
Throughout his speech, Aquino referred to his father, the late Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., and his friend, the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo.
“Ngayon na papalakas nang papalakas ang ating ekonomiya ay mas ganado tayong isulong ang positibong reporma na magdudulot ng malawakang transpormasyon sa bansa,” the President said.
(Now that our economy grows stronger, our appetite for positive reform increases, resulting in transformation of the country.)
“Ito ang pangarap ng aking ama; ito ang pangarap ni Secretary Robredo; ito ang pangarap ng napakaraming tumindig para sa Pilipino: Isang lipunan kung saan lahat ay nag-aambagan para sa kapwa at bansa; isang lipunan na hitik sa oportunidad at walang sinuman ang naiiwan.
(That is the dream of my father; that is the dream of Secretary Robredo; that is the dream of those who fought for the Filipinos: a society where people work together for the country; a society abundant in opportunities and where no one is left behind.)
Monday marked the death anniversary of Robredo, who died after the plane he was riding crashed off Masbate Island.
Aquino said Robredo was always rushing to serve the people.
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