DESPITE his resignation as secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), senatorial bet Mark Villar has vowed to sustain his support in the implementation of the massive flood-control project in Pampanga.
The project, which was kicked-off in 2018 under Villar’s leadership of DPWH, is seen to solve the perennial flooding problem in low-lying areas of Pampanga.
The ongoing project has total cost of P4.776 billion and is funded through a South Korean loan amounting to P3.71 billion, and a counterpart from the Philippine national government amounting to P1.1 billion.
“Malaking problema po ang baha dito sa Pampanga kaya mayroon tayong masterplan para masolusyunan ito. Magkakaroon ng outflow ang floodwaters sa low-lying areas dito sa Pampanga, at sa mga surrounding places na rin para hindi tumagal ang baha,” Villar said.
He assured Kapampangans that he will push for the swift completion of the project if he is elected this upcoming polls.
Villar also vowed to push for the construction of essential facilities and infrastructure, especially roads that will ease the travel of locals and tourists in the province.
Among these is the construction of the Luzon Spine Expressway Network which Villar described as a high-speed highway that will connect the north and south portion of Luzon, particularly Ilocos to Bicol.
“Kung dati 18 hours ang byahe mula Ilocas to Bicol and vice versa, kapag natapos po ito ay magiging nine hours nalang so napakalaking bawas po sa oras at pagod natin,” he said.
More jobs, livelihood
As the chief implementor of the administration’s “Build, Build, Build” program, Villar was able to help generate more than 6.5 million jobs for Filipinos, particularly those in the construction sector.
If elected as senator, he said he will continue to find ways to provide more employment and livelihood opportunities to fellow Filipinos.
He said generating livelihood and employment will not only help provide for the daily needs of Filipinos, but will also help uplift the economy, especially amid the pandemic.
“Sa tulong po ng Build,Build, Build program, marami tayong nabigyan ng trabaho at kahit sa gitna ng pandemya, dahil tuluy-tuloy po ang mga proyekto ay tuluy-tuloy din ang trabaho ng mga kababayan natin at ito ay naging malaking tulong para hindi magsara ang ekonomiya natin. Ganun po ka-importante ang kabuhayan kaya ito po ay prayoridad natin kung sakaling makaupo tayo sa senado,” he said.