The Provincial Development Council (PDC) of Negros Occidental proposed an P8.106-billion Annual Investment Plan (AIP) for 2018 was approved on Thursday, June 1.
The approval was done during the PDC meeting presided by Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. held at the Nature’s Village Resort in Talisay City.
The AIP, or the Capitol’s “wish list,” is a list of programs, projects, and activities which the provincial government will implement in 2018. The fund will be sourced from the province’s 20 percent Provincial Development Fund.
Of the P8.106 billion proposal, the Social Development sector got the highest appropriation with P3.844 billion followed by General Public Service sector, P1.857 billion; Infrastructure Development, P1.563 billion; Economic Development, P737 million; and Environment Development, P103 million.
The PDC also endorsed the application for loan from the Municipal Development Fund Office to finance several projects worth P1.406 billion.
These projects include farm-to-market roads worth P609 million; construction of public markets P318 million; purchase of heavy equipment, P128 million; breakwater and dredging, P86 million; information and communication technology projects, P85 million; bridge construction, P60 million; construction of multi-purpose building, P50 million; hospital upgrading, P40 million; and construction of government center, P30 million.
The PDC also endorsed the Barcelona Port Rehabilitation and Development project in Escalante City worth P170 million.
Ma. Lina Sanogal, provincial planning and development coordinator, said the proposed AIP will be forwarded to the Provincial Board for concurrence.
For budget allocation, the proposed programs and projects under AIP will be subject for approval of the PDC and the Provincial Board, she added.
Also present during the PDC meeting were Capitol consultants Rafael Coscolluela and Roy Balicas, mayors, and other provincial government officials. (MPE)