Investments
Bicol will invest some P16.3 billion in various socio-economic
and infrastructure projects to cushion the impact of the global
financial crunch and spur the region’s economy by 2010. The
Regional Development Council 5 identified and endorsed such
projects for inclusion in the Economic Resiliency Plan during
its February 4 meeting at NEDA Region 5, Legazpi City.
In Camarines Sur Gov. Luis Raymund Villafuerte told a forum in
the "Go Negosyo Goes Bicol Express" that the Sangguniang
Panlalawigan has allotted some P10 million as start-up capital
for microlending in the province. They will start lending P1,000
to those who want to put up a small business. It will benefit
some 20,000 micro-entrepreneurs or 60,000 families.
(Positive News Media, Feb. 3, 2009)
The Department of Agrarian Reform’s P8.6 billion allotment to
develop agrarian-reform communities (ARCs) in provinces with
high incidence of poverty will include 152 ARC beneficiaries in
the provinces of Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte and Sorsogon in
the Bicol region. The fund comes from the Asian Development Bank
(ADB) and the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID).
(Business Mirror, Feb. 2, 2009)
The President issued Executive Order No. 779, amending EO 634,
citing that the Bicol Calamity Assistance and Rehabilitation
Effort Committee (B CARE C) needs more time to complete its
mandate after enduring "some setbacks causing inevitable
spillover” until June 2010.” President Arroyo issued EO. 634 on
July 3, 2007 creating the B CARE C and providing its operations
for two years. (Ref: PIA News, Feb. 10, 2009)
The Spanish
government through the Agencia Español de Cooperacion
Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID) turned over P110
million worth of infrastructure projects to Albay province.
Ambassador
Arias and Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal signed a Memorandum of
Agreement (MOA) granting the city P93 million for the
implementation of comprehensive solid waste management project.
In Ligao
City, the Spanish Ambassador turned-over to Gov. Salceda the
newly renovated Josefina Belmonte Duran Memorial District
Hospital (JBDMDH) a 50-bed tertiary hospital servicing the
medical needs of residents in the seven towns and a city in the
third district of Albay.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional
office bided out a total of P2.923 billion worth of pump-priming
projects as part of the stimulus program of the government.
Eng'r Orlando Roces, DPWH regional director, said the amount
covers the implementation of a total of 87 projects in the six
provinces of the Bicol region. Construction will start first
week of April. (PIA News)
