Construction

The Department of Agrarian Reform’s (DAR) National Project Coordinating Office (NPCO) recently turned over nine of the 58 subprojects funded by the second Agrarian Reform Community Project (ARCP) to Barangays Matacong, San Ramon and San Isidro in San Lorenzo Ruiz; San Felipe in Basud; and Malancao-Basud in Labo, all in Camarines Norte. 

President Aquino inaugurated last Monday the Baybay diversion road project, which aims to minimize traffic congestion in the city proper and reduce the travel time from Maasin City to the cities of Tacloban and Ormoc, Leyte. 

A team from the World Bank (WB) recently visited select subprojects in Regions 1, 2, 3, and Cordillera under the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP). 

To meet investment targets for public infrastructure, the Infrastructure Committee of the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) approved the reinstitution of a three-year rolling infrastructure program in the national budget process, starting in 2017. 

A lawmaker has proposed the creation of the National Drainage Authority (NDA) that shall study, improve, administer and construct all national drainage systems in the country. 

Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental—The government has surpassed its target of bringing electricity to rural areas nationwide through the Sitio Electrification Program (SEP). 

Higher government spending on infrastructure will boost gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the first quarter of 2016, according to Budget Secretary Florencio B. Abad. 

The development and progress among regions in Southern Luzon is expected to be enhanced by a bill seeking to establish the Quezon-Bicol Expressway, which has already been endorsed for plenary approval. 

Maynilad Water Services Inc. has started a sewer network project along Dr. A. Santos Avenue in Parañaque City. 

Fiscal agencies are pushing for higher infrastructure spending in 2017 in a bid to further improve public infrastructure, raise potential economic growth, and reduce poverty in the country. This will entail not only allocating more funds to build quality infrastructure, but also linking medium-term plan priorities to annual budgetary considerations.