THE Cebu Provincial Development Council (PDC) approved the proposed P520-million annual investment plan (AIP) for 2016.

Of the P520-million budget, payment for Capitol’s loan taken out to buy heavy equipment gets the biggest share, with P110 million.

The investment plan also included items for financial assistance to the local government units amounting to P103 million and farm-to-market road worth P97 million.

The funds for the P520-million 2016 AIP of the Province of Cebu will be taken from the 20 percent development fund of the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) for fiscal year 2016.

The PDC, which approved the AIP during its full council meeting last Oct. 13, has submitted the budget to the Provincial Board for approval.

The three items are under the economic services of Capitol’s investment plan.

The annual investment plan has two major parts-economic services, and social and environmental services.

There are five items under the economic services and six items under the social and environmental services.

Among the five items under economic services and has the biggest allocation is the infrastructure item that included construction of bridges and roads, rehabilitation and repair program. This item, with a total allocation of P P256.7 million, has three sections: provincial, municipal and barangay roads worth P49.666 million; P97-million farm-to-market road, and the P110-million loan payment for heavy equipment.

The P256.7 million comprised nearly half of the total amount of AIP.

Partial payment

The P110 million will be the Capitol’s partial payment for heavy equipment loan. The principal amount of loan is P200 million.

The P97-million allocation for farm-to-market road is the Capitol’s counterpart for a P970 million road projects of World Bank’s soft loan package through Philippine Rural Development Program, which will be paid by the National Government, said Provincial Planning and Development Office Head Christopher Lucero. He also serves as the PDC secretary.

The P103 million for assistance and subsidy to LGUs, institution on investment and capital expenditure projects, meanwhile, will be released through the Governor’s Office, with P60 million; the Vice Governor’s Office, with P9 million; and P34 million that will be released through the Provincial Board members.

Other items under economic services are tourism infrastructure support, with P13.5 million; Construction and rehabilitation of buildings, with P9 million; Cebu South Bus Terminal, with P3 million; and item on food production, livelihood, entrepreneurship and other related programs, with P36.5 million.

For social and environment services, the items included hospitals, health facilities and birthing centers, with P47 million; water supply development, with P11 million; culture, sports and manpower development, P8 million; environment and solid waste management, P5 million; electrification, P2 million; and construction and rehabilitation of multi-purpose facilities for children and women, P14.63 million.

PDC is chaired by Gov. Hilario Davide III, with his members, namely, PB Member Grecilda Sanchez, who chairs the provincial committee on appropriation; Celestino Martinez, president of the Cebu Association of Barangay Councils; mayor representative of Cebu north; mayor representative of Cebu south and chairpersons of different committees. These are committees on infrastructure and utilities headed by Elizabeth Ybanez; environment management committee chaired by Leonardo Moneva; social development committee chaired by Anthony Dignadice of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc., and development administration committee headed by Ma. Luisa Chiongbian.