Provincial Gov. Roel Degamo has released P32 million worth of projects for 26 barangays in Dumaguete City.
This followed a meeting between Degamo and the barangay captains last June 14 to discuss the projects.
Association of Barangay Councils President Bert Aquino said his fellow barangay captains were able to identify the problems of their community during the meeting.
“We had a good discussion with Governor Degamo, which centered on priority programs which the barangay captains had asked from the Province in the past few months,” Aquino said.
Drainage systems, multipurpose centers and the reconstruction of roads were identified as the most immediate concerns of the barangay captains.
The barangay captains said their infrastructure sustained heavy damage from Tropical Storm Sendong. Estimates of the damage to Dumaguete infrastructure from Sendong was placed at Php 507 million.
Degamo also announced a Php 150 million budget for the rechanelling of the Banica river and another Php 200 million for the Ocoy river.
Degamo said he was happy that the barangay captains were able to identify the problems in their barangays, adding that he is looking at the possibility of adding more projects by October.
“The fund was taken from the 20 percent Economic Development Fund for this year,” the Governor said. The projects include concreting of roads, river dike construction, and concreting of canals.
The Governor said he is helping Dumaguete City because of the many beautiful comments about the city from the participants of the recent Philippine National Games.
“Dumaguete is the window of our homes, the center of economic activity and is the entry and exit point of Negros Oriental. That is why we must let the tourists see how wonderful Dumaguete is the moment they arrive,” Degamo said. (Maria Lourdes M. Barte, SU Masscom intern)
