|
|
Investments
-
The
National Irrigation Administration (NIA) ordered for the
indefinite suspension of the construction of the proposed
Libmanan-Cabusao Dam (LCD) in Malaguico, Sipocot, Camarines
Sur after months of controversy that split farmers’ groups
in Camarines Sur. Tomasito Monzon, chief of the Bicol River
Basin Watershed Management Project (BRWMP), announced the
suspension of the P700-M LCD that he said “would give them
time to attend to recommendations from groups opposing the
project.”
The suspension of the LCD was carried out through a
directive from NIA Administrator Carlos S. Salazar dated
Dec. 15, 2009. The LCD is one major component of the P1.9-B
irrigation project which the NIA is implementing under the
BRWMP. The project is estimated to increase irrigated lands
in Libmanan and Cabusao towns from 1,000 ha. to 4,000 ha.
-
Earlier,
during the November 18 RDC full Council meeting, Governor
Joey Salceda, Chairman of the RDC5, directed the temporary
suspension of the LCD until a full assessment is conducted
and various issues are addressed by a project review team
created for the purpose.
The team
was tasked to review the project based on the approved
standards and environment clearance certificate (ECC)
including the reported project deviations. It will also
look into the alleged complaints of various organizations
concerning possible threats such as flooding and
displacement of families to be affected once the dam project
is completed. The team is composed of technical people from
the NEDA, Environment Management Bureau (EMB), Department
of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the
National Irrigation Administration (NIA).
-
Work on the Southern Luzon International Airport has gone
full blast following the acquisition of some 200 hectares of
land on which will be built the runway and airport
facilities. Transportation and Communications Department
officials in the Bicol region said the airport was a
big-ticket project under President Gloria Arroyo’s super
region program. The airport, located in Barangay Alobo in
Daraga, Albay, had a P3.4-billion budget to ensure its
completion as scheduled in 2012, Gov. Joey Salceda said.
The
project has already spent some P800 million for land
acquisition, pre-construction and other structural
requirements, including feasibility studies according to
Salceda.
-
A
P212-million investment will spur infrastructure development
in the Guicadale Business Platform in Albay. Governor Joey
Salceda said that the provincial government has sourced
funding from the French Protocol for the construction of six
bridges in the Guinobatan, Camalig, Daraga and Legazpi or
Guicadale, a future business hub in the province's third and
second districts. The bridges will interconnect critical
roads surrounding the South Luzon International Airport in
Daraga including towns in the province of Sorsogon such as
Donsol, the whale shark capital of the world.
Civil
works for the bridge construction was set to start October 9
following the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)
between the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)
and the provincial government of Albay in Manila. Salceda
and DPWH Undersecretary Emil Sadain signed the agreement to
formalize the start of the joint project.
back to top |
