THE Regional Development Committee (RDC) will be endorsing about P281 billion worth of projects for the Davao Region for 2021.
In a press conference on Friday, March 6, RDC chair Jayvee Tyron Uy said the committee will meet with Congress in April and May to discuss the budget proposals from 48 agency regional offices, state universities and colleges, and government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCS).
He said apart from the Davao-Samal Bridge and the Waste-To-Energy (WTE) project, most of the projects are infrastructures that include a proposed alternative airport to help decongest the Davao International Airport (DIA).
“Nagpasa tag resolution for the study of the alternative airport para sa Davao Region. Ang anticipation nato nga in the next five years, mudugang na pud ta og airport (We have submitted a resolution for the study of the alternative airport in Davao because we anticipate that we should add airport in the next five years),” he said.
He said among the potential sites are in Mati City in Davao Oriental, Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos) in Davao del Norte, Davao City, and Malita town in Davao Occidental. However these are still up for feasibility study.
Uy urged the added these sites have been proposed to the Department of Transportation (DOTR) for a feasibility study before but was not continued.
“Among gi-propose usab nga dapat, as early as now mag conduct na og study ang DOTR para sa establishment for an alternative airport (We asked the DOTR to conduct the study for the establishment of the new airport as early as now),” he said.
“Kana siya para hatagan og higayon ang mga Dabawenyos nga mapadali ang atong mga byahe sa ubang lugar pinaagi sa pagbuhat og dako nga airport,” Uy added.
Apart from the proposed new airport, the budget will also include construction of roads to tourism destinations in the region.
In the information provided to the media, P2.5 billion will be allocated for seven major projects such as the Samal Island-Davao Connector Project, Convergence and Special Support Program, National Road System Program, WTE project, construction of local infrastructure projects, national buildings, classrooms, and laboratories, and housing projects for the government employees and informal settlers.
The regional office with the highest proposed budget are the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) with P155 billion, followed by the Department of Education (Deped) with P70.2 billion, National Housing Authority (NHA) with P15.8 billion, Philippine National Police (PNP) with P11.1 billion and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) with P9.1 billion.