PB approves P25.2 billion investment budget

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu Provincial Board has approved the P25.2-billion Provincial Development Investment Program (PDIP) for 2017-2022 without any questions during its session yesterday.

The resolution sponsored by Board Member Celestino “Tining” Martinez III adopting and approving the PDIP was deferred in the previous session after Board Member Raul Bacaltos questioned that he has not received copy of the attachment to the proposed measure.

The PDIP is an investment and development plan until 2022, which was already approved by the Provincial Development Council (PDC).

As chairman of the PB committee on budget and appropriations, Martinez said the plan is subject to annual review every time the PB will discuss the annual budget.

Once the PB will tackle the 2018 annual budget, the PB members may ask if the proposed projects are in line with PDIP, he said.

Martinez also explained that the PDIP will prevent national government agencies from implementing projects that would duplicate what the Cebu Province had already initiated.

For 2018, a total of P798-million worth of projects and programs were identified and the biggest chunk of P175 million goes to roads, bridges and highways construction and rehabilitation program of different local government units.

In the following year, the province will need P17.243 billion for the Metro Cebu Development Coordinating Board priority projects such as the bypass road and other (P10.5 billion); flared intersection and ground improvements (P2 billion) and the construction of resource center building (P1.3 billion).

For 2020, a total of P2.488-billion worth of projects is identified which include the P600-million construction of classroom buildings.

Another P600 million for classroom buildings is included in the 2021 projects in the total amount of P2.393 billion.

In 2022, a total of P1.7 billion worth of projects include the P246.4 million of road development project and another P243.7 million for road improvement and P200 million for classroom buildings. (FREEMAN)