DBM OKs P1.92B for flood control, farm-to-market road projects

A total of P1.92 billion has been released to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Department of Agriculture (DA) for the implementation of  flood control and farm-to-market road projects, respectively.

Of the funds, P1.23 billion was released to the DPWH while P693 million was released to the DA, according to Budget Secretary Florencio Abad in a statement Monday.

“We are making strategic investments in public infrastructure, including the rehabilitation and construction of flood-control systems to bolster our anti-flooding interventions ahead of the rainy season,” said Abad on the release of fund to the DPWH.

He said the P1.23 billion was released to the DPWH to fund flood management projects to mitigate perennial flooding in the National Capital Region and Central Luzon. Of the amount, NCR will receive P776 million while Region III will receive P450 million.

On the other hand, the P693 million was released to the DA for the repair, rehabilitation and construction of farm-to-market roads all over the country, Abad said.

Of the P693 million, farmer beneficiaries in Region IV will receive P164 million, while Region V will receive P125 million and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) P75 million.

“As part of our strategy to invest more in agri-industries, we aim to provide better commercial accessibility for farmers’ goods and products through the development of these roads. In particular, the release to ARMM is in line with the administration’s goal of supporting socio-economic growth and establishing better stability and peace in the region,” Abad said.

He added that fund releases for infrastructure and public construction projects are part of the Aquino administration’s drive to sustain the country’s economic gains and make growth more inclusive. — KBK, GMA News