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CITY OF
SAN FERNANDO— Pampanga Gov. Eddie T. Panlilio will
convene the Provincial Development Council at 2 p.m. on
Friday at the Executive House of the Provincial Capitol
to finalize and approve the 2008 Annual Investment Plan
(2008 AIP) of the province.
The
meeting will be attended by various stakeholders in
Pampanga, including nongovernment organizations,
municipal and city chief executives, as well as officers
of the provincial capitol.
Panlilio,
meanwhile, is expected to elaborate on his development
plans for Pampanga when he addresses the general
membership meeting of the Financial Executives
Association of the Philippines (Finex) on Wednesday noon
at the Manila Peninsula’s Conservatory.
The
approval of the 2008 AIP is a crucial step in the
acquisition from the national government of a
P181.23-million development fund, representing 20
percent of the province’s Internal Revenue Allotment,
which is projected to be at P906.19 million. It shall
then be forwarded to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for
its final approval.
Onboard
are proposals for livelihood improvement and promotion,
social amelioration, health intervention and
infrastructure development.
“These
proposed projects will harmoniously complement the other
programs already included in the general fund,”
according to the governor. “The senior citizens, for
example, have P5 million earmarked for 2008. This
allows us greater flexibility in distributing services
to all sectors of our province.”
Besides
the 2008 AIP, Panlilio will also present to the
attendees his proposal to have a Provincial Farm Summit
to address the impending food crisis in our nation.
Pampanga being one of the major rice producers and
ranking high in fish production as well, the governor
would like to sea a more coordinated approach to
multiterm solutions of various agencies, offices,
cooperatives, local government units and farming
communities. He sees the strong contribution that the
province can provide in President Arroyo’s effort to
answer the market needs of the people. Provincial
Agriculturist Dr. Mario Mangiliman remarked that the
rice production of Pampanga has been more than adequate,
with a brighter prospect in the coming harvest months.
However, with the early onset of the rainy season and
the predicted coming of La Niña, he batted for greater
preparedness for the farming sector.
The
provincial government mandates included among the
priority development projects earmarked in the Annual
Investment Plan are:
•
Construction and repair of roads and bridges, P60
million;
•
Construction and repair of government buildings and
facilities, P41.82 million;
•
Provision for construction materials for construction
and repair of government facilities, P12.5 million;
•
Construction/rehabilitation/fabrication of artesian
wells and water system, P3 million;
•
Maintenance and improvement of capitol grounds and park,
P1 million. |
