BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya: Under the No Dead End Road program of the provincial government, a P1 billion-peso worth of development projects in this landlocked province have already started, some are almost completed, according to Gov. Carlos Padilla.
Patterned after the national government’s Build, Build, Build program, Padilla explained that the No Dead End Road Program of the provincial government aims to connect all towns and villages in this mountainous province.
“The wisdom of pouring one-time funds to complete each project is to avoid costs as a result of inflation by doing away with the per phase-type of road budget spending due to lack funds,” Padilla said.
He said the loan from the Department of Finance-Municipal Development Fund Office would boost the economy in mostly upland communities in the province, most of which are connected with underdeveloped road networks.
“This will surely spur economic development and boost the province’s capability in addressing health problems and concerns such as the coronavirus disease 2019,” he added.
He also explained that the national government has encouraged local government units to apply for loans which will create jobs especially this time of the pandemic where many people have lost their jobs as a result, thus propelling the economy in the province.
“With only four percent interest of which the two percent is shouldered by the national government while the remaining two percent by the local government is such a great relief for the provincial government in pursuing various health and read development projects,” Padilla said.
In southern Nueva Vizcaya, Padilla led other government officials to inspect the 10.45 kilometers concreting of the National-Bua-Bulala-Muta-Macabenga road worth P180 million; concreting of the 14.45 kilometers Palabotan-Banila-Caino-Anayo-Canarem road worth P248.7 million; and the concreting of the more than four kilometers Dupax Del Sur-Iiyo-Carolotan road worth P83 million.
In northern Nueva Vizcaya, also inspected road projects include the concreting of the 181.15 meters Bagabag District Hospital Access road worth P4.8 million; concreting of 4.72 kilomters CVR Nagsabaran-Decabacan-Ampakleng road worth P83 million; concreting of the 1.95 kilometers Kinacao-Kurasay-Kinalabasa road worth P34 million; concreting of the 6.25 kilometers Bonifacio-Dagupan-Palayan road worth P127 million; and concreting of the 2.16 kilometers Diffuday-Bonifacio road worth P42.5 million.
Other projects of the provincial government include the establishment of Biohazard Level 2 Laboratory at the Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Hospital (NVPH) in Bambang town worth P5 million; construction of the NVPH building Phase 3 worth P162 million; and P32 million dietary, laundry and ward building for Bagabag Hospital in Bagabag town with its P1 million for cadaver holding area.