Capitol spent P625 million for infra

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO - The Capitol, under the helm of Governor Lilia Pineda, has spent at least P625 million for various infrastructure projects in her 30 months in office.

Engineer Noli Pangan of the provincial engineering office, who spoke in behalf of the governor, reported this during the induction of the new officers of the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers Inc. over the weekend at Fortune Seafood Restaurant in this city.

"I am very proud to say that the Provincial Government under Governor Pineda's administration has finished the general renovation of all 11 district and provincial hospitals, plus the construction and improvement of roads, bridges, canals and school buildings which have all been done simultaneously, with a total cost of P625 million," Pangan said.

The amount, he said, excludes the construction and improvement of some 183 classrooms in different elementary and high schools across Pampanga -- including the fully renovated Don Honorio Ventura Technological State University satellite campus in Sto. Tomas -- to the tune of P182 million.

"These infrastructure projects like the hospitals and classrooms are of the highest quality and workmanship. Our government hospitals are comparable to private hospitals in terms of physical condition, and the classrooms fitted with comfort rooms are in response to the Department of Education's call for assistance in addressing the scarcity of school buildings and classrooms, with added convenience for students," Pangan added.

He said that with the Pineda administration's focus on health, education and infrastructure and with six months to go before the end of the governor's term, Capitol is looking at P210 million worth more of infrastructure projects in its executive agenda for 2013.

"If we are going to summarize the milestones achieved during the term of Governor Pineda in 30 months, even if she still has six months to go, we could say that the Provincial Government has already spent some P1.2 billion. We all know that when infrastructures are being done, the next thing to happen is inevitable progress because we believe that infrastructure means progress," said Pangan.