Another P800M for Baguio projects

ASIDE from P65-million already appropriated by Baguio Rep. Bernardo Vergara from his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), he has also obtained another P800-million from other sources, to fund more projects that would benefit the city.

This was disclosed on records of Vergara’s office, where it was also revealed that in the past two and a half years, much of the house bills he introduced in Congress have been passed in the House of Representatives and are now awaiting Senate or bicameral approval. Their website reveals that he sponsored or authored 111 house bills, and co-authored another 127.

“We worked hand-in-hand in making 2012 a banner year of completed road projects. I remain committed in making 2013 an even better building year. The major arterial roads were upgraded, the vital sections re-blocked, and drainage systems re-fitted as protective measures against natural damages, soil erosion, and flooding,” he said.

Among these projects included soft infra projects for all128 barangays in Baguio were each was initially given P230,000 each with an additional P110,000 for a total of P43,520,000.

This also included the rehabilitation of Gibraltar Road, the rehabilitation and repair of roadside and road within and surrounding the Burnham area, Session Road, Magsaysay Avenue, Malcolm Square, the Igorot Garden, the corner of Naguilian and Bokawkan Roads, the Marcos Highway - BGH Junction flyover, the North Drive bypass road, the Burnham park dredging project, the pedestrian overpasses along Abanao Street and at the Doña Josefa Cariño Elementary School near City Hall, plus another P1-million to augment city funds for a third overpass.

Aside from these, Vergara bared that the design and programming of the Tarlac - Pangasinan - La Union Expresswayor TPLEX is already ongoing and is expected to be completed this year upon the instruction of President Benigno Aquino III.

“We negotiated with concerned agencies and local government units to allow the TPLEX development to end at the foot of Kennon Road. This year, we anticipate the substantial completion of the TPLEX and when finally completed, Baguio stands to gain much from increased tourism arising from the reduced land travel from Manila to Baguio to within 3 hours,” he explained.

As to flood control, the rehabilitation and cleaning of the 2.5-kilometer flood control tunnel at City Camp lagoon, and the construction of screens at the mouth of existing creeks, as well as the improvement and rehabilitation of the drainage system between Lower Q.M. and Lower Rock Quarry barangays have also been done.

“These are also various legislative measures that seek to convert 10 high school annexes in our city into national high schools; to upgrade about 70 city roads into national roads, and to turn sizable public lands in Gibraltar and other areas into disposable land lots for qualified residents.”

“For our educational concerns, we have funded the construction and completion of new school buildings, and the upgrading of school playgrounds and function rooms. We also succeeded in lobbying for the opening of 269 plantilla items or permanent positions for casual teachers to fill up, Vergara continued. A total of P54-million had been allotted for the construction of classrooms and public school buildings, while another P12-milluion was allowed to subsidize school bound programs.

“For educational scholarships at the college level, we helped about a thousand impoverished youths from our annual funding in the amount of P14-million, and about 500 scholars from the NCIP, TESDA and DOLE in the amount of P5-million, he added. The BMV-MGD Education Financial Assistance Program has 947 beneficiaries receiving P7,000 each per semester, the NCIP Scholarship Program has 260 beneficiaries, while the TESDA Scholarship Program has 400 beneficiaries.

Aside from these, Vergara has also allotted P1-million for poor students and dropouts under the Alternative Learning System. (PR)