DBM turns over P1.73B to DPWH

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has turned over P1.73 billion to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to implement water supply projects across the country.

The move is in line with the Aquino administration’s efforts to provide adequate water sources in tourism areas that lack water.  These include some of the poorest areas in the country.

Leading the list of priority implementation areas are the cities of San Carlos in Negros Occidental and Dapitan in Zamboanga del Norte, which were both allocated P138.6 million.

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said the Tourism Water Supply Infrastructure program-a convergence project between the DPWH and the Department of Tourism (DoT) was designed to boost tourism and economic activity in identified priority development sites.

 “Through the joint efforts of these agencies, the Administration has identified various in-need locations nationwide which have been waterless for years now. As poor as these communities have been, however, we understand their potential for growth, especially through local tourism. Our latest fund release aims to respond to this need and potential by developing water supply facilities in these areas,” Abad said.

The P1.73-billion release was charged against the DPWH’s budget for Water Supply and Sanitation for poverty areas and tourism priority sites under the 2014 General Appropriation’s Act (GAA).