Benguet vows to fast track key infra projects

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — The provincial government on Tuesday vowed to fast track the implementation of more than PHP500 million worth of infrastructure projects. Governor Crescencio Pacalso said the projects include farm-to-market roads, barangay roads, tourism roads, medical facilities, environmental protection, disaster risk reduction and management, barangay halls and school buildings, among others. Pacalso appealed to all provincial officials for their commitment and cooperation, emphasizing the need to give a “good life” to the people of their province through the provision for infrastructure. He said the projects are expected to augment their performance ratings towards the attainment of a Seal of Good Governance. Under the provincial government’s revised strategic plan for the next three to four years, it intends to complete projects funded in the current year. The governor, however, raised the problem of the lack of personnel which may hinder the timely completion of the projects. “Our dilemma is the lack of personnel especially engineers in our Provincial Engineering Office,” Pacalso said. He expressed hope that this will be addressed when the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) acts on the request for additional engineers. Provincial Board Member Bernard Waclin, who heads the Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure, said that they are also dealing with non-implementation of projects brought about by problems related to the bidding process./PNA