P1-B fund for rehab of typhoon-affected projects in Panay up for release
Fund intended for the repair of infrastructure projects that were damaged by typhoon “Frank” in Panay Island last 2008 is expected to be released early this month.
Public Works and Highways regional director Rolando Asis disclosed that Panay will receive P1-billion for repairs and replacements of damaged structures which will be taken from the P12-billion supplemental calamity fund that was approved last year.
The amount was expected to be released late December 2009 or early January, he added.
Asis added that roads and bridges that were destroyed by Frank mostly in Antique and Iloilo have been replaced by temporary structures using the agency’s calamity fund.
The P481-million that was initially released in March last year, meantime, was used to kick off the construction of several damaged bridges except for the Tigum Bridge that was given full funding of P100-million for its full replacement.
To date, works for the replacement of the Tigum Bridge in Cabatuan, Baltazar Aquino Bridge in Leon and Camanggahan Bridge in Guimbal, Tubang Bridge in Maasin all in Iloilo province have been going on.
Other on-going works in Iloilo province are the repair of the Misi Bridge in Lambunao, completion of the Phase II of the Daja Bridge in Maasin and driving of steel sheet piles for the repair of the road slip in Pototoan.
The dredging of the Aklan River in Libacao and Kalibo was suspended pending approval of the environmental compliance certificate (ECC) for its disposal site location.
The improvement of the Dungon Creek in Iloilo City on the other hand has been suspended due several obstructions.
Meantime, Asis added that they hoped to complete the repair and replacement of other temporary structures in six months once the fund is available. (PNA)
