Roxas brought P998-M worth of projects to Capiz
ROXAS CITY – Contrary to his critics' claim that he has not brought much projects to Capiz, Sen. Mar Roxas has, in fact, facilitated the realization of projects for his hometown worth P998-million or almost a billion pesos.
This was disclosed by provincial board member Alfonso Bediones, Jr. who said that most of these projects were done during Roxas' term as congressman of the first district of Capiz.
Foremost among these projects are the P220-million construction/ concreting of Culasi port and the P120-million Pilar-Pres. Roxas-Panitan-Lanot road; the P40-million Maayon-Tapulang-Cuartero road; the P34-million Punta Tabuc – Cagay - Balijuagan – Ivisan road; and the P15-million Bailan – Maayon road.
In a privilege speech, Bediones, a staunch political ally of Roxas, said he initiated an action to come up with a research on what Roxas has done for the province to dispel the thought being "peddled by people who, perhaps, are not aware of Roxas projects when he was congressman and by those who have simply an axe to grind against him."
Bediones said he has also caused the distribution of handouts that bear the enumeration of projects and "remarkable accomplishments of Roxas as Representative, as a DTI Secretary, and as a Senator."
"Undeniably, those accomplishments have gone a very long way in improving the living standards of Capiceños," Bediones said.
Bediones particularly cited Roxas for "providing impetus to investments and heightened economic activities in the form of farm-to-market and major road networks, ports, wharves, seawalls, drainage, river control and irrigation systems, school buildings, health center, government and multi-purpose halls, public markets, slaughterhouses, warehouses, bridges, among others.
Going over these projects, Bediones said, has made him understand that Roxas' focus has been in preparing Capiz to be the "next investors' haven in northern Panay."
By facilitating the concreting of major road networks, Roxas has made Roxas City comfortably accessible to visitors who come from the central or the northern part of Iloilo, according to Bediones. "As a tourism advocate, I can say that Roxas City is now a destination to reckon with."
With the improvement of our pier, trade and industries have flourished, so that exchanges of products and commercial goods have become more frequent and easy, according to Bediones.
For the local constituents, Bediones said, they were provided with amenities like civic centers, which provide venue to any public functions, public markets where they can sell their products with comfort and convenience and, more importantly, traveling within the province was made easy by the construction of roads and bridges that interconnect the first and second districts. "Travel time was now significantly reduced with the completion of Roxas City – Balijuagan – Ivisan road, hence additional savings on fuel cost."
Bediones said the fact that Senator Roxas has, to a huge extent, contributed in the preparation of our place to what it is today deserves at least a gesture of thanks and appreciation."