South Cotabato Gov. Daisy Avance-Fuentes said infrastructure got the biggest chunk reaching P70 million and human development projects at a far second with P29.88 million.
Fuentes said the rest went to economic development (P10.53 million) and development administration (P2.988 million).
Under infrastructure, the Provincial Development Council (PDC) allotted P20 million for repair and maintenance of provincial roads and bridges, P30 million for infrastructure support for effective delivery of services, and P5 million for construction, repair, rehabilitation of farm-to-market roads, bridges, flood control and other infrastructure facilities.
The PDC also allotted P1 million for the barangay energization program, P2 million for rural water supply and sanitation program, P3 million for rural development support infrastructure, P7 million as counterpart to foreign-assisted projects, and P2 million for infrastructure projects for the second phase of the Lake Sebu tourism project.
In human development investments, they included P2.615 million for the integrated health services program, P5.325 million for social welfare and development, P1.246 million for the public employment and services program, and P3,456 million for environmental development initiatives.
Another P1.673 million was allotted for tourism development and promotions, P1.561 million for arts, culture and museum support program, P5 million for barangay assistance program, and P9 million for the Kabugwason-Paglaum Scholarship Program.
Fuentes said the investment projects were based on the annual investment plan (AIP) for next year and which the PDC approved last week. The council is composed of municipal mayors, provincial board members, business leaders and representatives from the academe, religious groups, non-government organizations and people’s organizations.
Next year’s AIP is P15 million more than last year’s P98 million.
On economic development, the AIP allotted P2.66 million for agricultural development services, P1.174 million for the operation and maintenance of the provincial scion grove, demo farm and laboratory, P4.4 million for the integrated livestock and poultry development program; and P2.297 million for the operation of the productivity and technology center and for trade and investment promotions.
AIP set aside P1.328 million for support to local and other special bodies and P1.659 for the operation of the provincial government’s information and communication technology unit. (Allen V. Estabillo / MindaNews)