BACOLOD City – This city will fully implement its P2.3 billion worth of major infrastructure projects in the first quarter of 2024.
Engineer Loben Ceballos, officer-in-charge of the City Engineer’s Office (CEO), disclosed that the fund will come from the P4.4 billion loan of the city to the Development Bank of the Philippines.
The projects referred to are the construction of:
* legislative building – P515 million
* mini hospitals for five barangays – P135 million
* Bacolod warehouse – P67.9 million
* city engineering motorpool area – P30.8 million
* pedestrian mall – P50 million
* traffic signalization – P25 million
Further, the following will be up for rehabilitation and improvement:
* old city hall – P223 million
* Burgos Public Market – P525 million
* tree park in Barangay Alangilan – P47 million
* City Health Office complex – P220 million
* roads – P171.5 million
* asphalt overlay – P10 million
* drainages – P168.5 million
* recovery and recycling complex and eco park – P103 million
* installation of solar power generation systems in various barangays and Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) – P100 million
The other proceeds of the loan will be utilized for lot acquisitions amounting to P1.5 billion and for the procurement of furniture and equipment worth P279.3 million.
Ceballos said the bidding for these will begin in January, except for the construction of the legislative building, which is already done.
Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez disclosed that on Dec. 4, a ground-breaking ceremony for the legislative building adjacent to the existing BCGC building will be held.
In April of this year, Benitez and DBP president and chief executive officer Michael de Jesus signed the loan agreement.
“The fastest way to prime the economy is through expenditures in infrastructure. The national government has said it is one of the strategies they have adopted. We will also do the same,” Benitez said.
He noted that the city council has agreed that the city government borrow funds to ensure rapid economic development instead of waiting for the money to enter the city’s coffers before implementing these projects. (With a report from PNA)/PN
