P11.4B boost for Bicol27 key projects okayed

By ERNIE DELGADO

LEGAZPI CITY --- At least 27 major development projects worth P11.4 billion have secured the approval of Cabinet secretaries under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., marking one of the strongest national commitments yet to accelerate infrastructure, agriculture, health, and innovation initiatives across the Bicol region.

The Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev) announced on December 2 that top officials from the central offices of key national agencies committed to include the Bicol Regional Development Council’s (RDC) priority projects in their 2027 investment programs, following a high-level Regional–National Investment Programming (RNIP) dialogue held November 26 at the Philippine International Convention Center.

Cabinet secretaries’ central offices assured the public of the inclusion of the projects in their investment programs during the Regional-National Investment Programming (RNIP) dialogue at the Philippine International Convention Center on Nov. 26, DEPDev Regional Director Edna Cynthia Berces said on Facebook.

Berces said the RNIP dialogue allowed the Regional Development Council (RDC) to lobby the inclusion of its priority projects in the budget proposals for 2027 from the central offices of the Department of Transportation, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Health, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Agriculture, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of the Interior and Local Government, and national Irrigation Administration.

“These projects cover critical sectors such as infrastructure, agriculture, health, and education,” Berces said.

“[They are] reinforcing the region’s development thrusts under the Bicol Regional Development Plan [for] 2023-2028,” she added.

The 27 projects approved by Cabinet secretaries are as follows:

• P2.12 billion construction of a 3-phase, 9-storey Cancer Institute for Medical, Surgical, Diagnostic, and Palliative Care;

• P1.05 billion Nabua bypass road project;

• P915 million Bicol International Airport;·

• P800 million Daet airport;

• P567 million construction of a 10-storey Women’s Health and Neonatal Care Specialty Center;

• P500 million Sorsogon City coastal extension road;

• P489.44 million Virac airport development project;

• P400 million Cagraray -Batan-Rapu-Rapu Interisland Link project;

• P360 million Tagkawayan-Labo diversion road (Labo section), including bridge;

• P342 million construction of a 3-storey DOST building with a roof deck (science for change facility);

• P300 million Paculago Small River Irrigation Project;

• P300 million construction of the Bicol Institute for Transfusion Science and Research Center;

• P238.65 million Aroroy proper-Mataba road project;

• P215.2 million Camarines Sur Skybridge project;

• P150 million Tara/Beguito Bridge along Daang Maharlika;

• P100 million livestock auction market cum multi-purpose animal management facility;

• P75.4 million agri-fishery mechanization hub and support center;

• P87.65 million Albay Pili Research and Agri-Ecotourism Center development project;

• P105 million innovations for women enterprises;

• P75 million construction of the Regional Peace and Development and Local Governance Convergence Center;

• P35 million upgrading of the abaca technology innovation center laboratory for biotechnology advancements;

• P30 million Masbate upcycling center for low-value indigenous fishes, other aquatic resources, and their waste derivatives;

• P8.7 million construction of a small water impounding system;·

• P8 million construction of Gabions and Gabion check dams;

• P209 million Cabusao-Balongay road; and

• P1.91 billion construction of a 15-storey central block (Phase II-V).

Three priority projects were referred to the Philippine Ports Authority by the DOTr, according to Berces.

These projects are the P670 million Matnog Port development project, the P105 million Tabaco seaport, and the P53 million Masbate roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) port project.

Albay Governor Noel Rosal, who is the RDC chair, led the RDC delegation during the RNIP dialogue.

Rosal reported that he also followed up on several other initiatives during the discussion.

These initiatives include the development of Legazpi Airport, the Philippine National Railway south long-haul project, improvements to the power supply in Bicol, and a feasibility study for constructing a bridge that would connect Camarines Sur to the island province of Catanduanes.

During the RDC meeting on Wednesday (Dec. 3), Camarines Sur Governor Luis Raymund “LRay” Villafuerte proposed replacing the P8 million construction of gabion and gabion check dams with the construction of a P500 million Bicol Women and Children’s Hospital. (PIA Bicol)