Error message

Deprecated function: The each() function is deprecated. This message will be suppressed on further calls in menu_set_active_trail() (line 2396 of /home1/mbcci/public_html/includes/menu.inc).

Integration of interconnectivity projects in NegOcc pushed

Monday, October 09, 2017
By Erwin P. Nicavera

THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), through its Local Road Network Development Plan (LRNDP), should integrate all other interconnectivity projects of the government in Negros Occidental, a private sector representative said.

Frank Carbon, regional governor of Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) in Western Visayas and Negros Island, said the integration of all interconnectivity efforts of various agencies is needed mainly to avoid duplication and fragmented projects.

Carbon said these interconnectivity projects include the Konkreto at Ayos na Lansangan ang Daan tungo sa Pangkalahatang Kaunlaran (Kalsada) of the DILG, Roads Leveraging Linkages for Industry and Trade (Roll It) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), farm-to-market roads of the Department of Agriculture, farm-to-mill roads of the Sugar Regulatory Administrations, tourism roads of the Department of Tourism, and other infrastructure developments of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

“Fragmented projects will not serve the purpose. The money spent for these efforts will not be maximized thus, integration as well as of interconnectivity projects of local government units in the province should be given consideration,” he added.

In terms of Roll It project, which is a joint project of the DTI and DPWH, the agencies have already allocated about P111 million for road network development in Negros Occidental.

The networks, seen to boost connectivity and lower production cost for local enterprises, particularly on transporting their raw materials and finished goods, will cover the First and Fourth Districts, particularly in cities of San Carlos and Bago.

The development, funded under the 2018 General Appropriation Act, is up for full implementation next year.

Carbon, chief executive officer of Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said they will submit a position paper to the DILG requesting it to ask other agencies to submit their respective connectivity projects.

This will enable the DILG to check whether there are duplications or areas that have accessibility problems, Carbon said, adding that they are also set to meet with the latter along with other regional line agencies this month to further discuss the matter.

“Once supported by the DILG, we will submit it to the Regional Development Council of Region 6 (Western Visayas) in support of the development plan for Negros Occidental,” he said.

Carbon reiterated that the development policy should be interconnecting first key and urban centers within the island before working on “connections” for outside markets.

It is seen to enable the province to form an integrated network settlement that will interconnect local farm and agriculture production sites, industrial complex, and tourism sites, among other industry sectors.

“We need to serve first the local market. If there are surplus in production, then we can now think of outside markets in the Visayas as well as other regions in Luzon and Mindanao,” Carbon said.

Zircon - This is a contributing Drupal Theme
Design by WeebPal.