The Sectoral Committee on Infrastructure and Development (SCID) has recommended to the Calabarzon Regional Development Council (RDC) seven measures to address issues, updates and concerns on current as well as future infrastructure projects in the Calabarzon provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon.
In an update received from National Economic Development Authority (NEDA)-Calabarzon on Tuesday, SCID Chairperson Ladislao Andal endorsed the measures for approval by Calabarzon RDC during the second quarter committee meeting last May 15 in Hotel Marciano in Barangay Real in Calamba City.
Three of the seven measures — which are in the form of resolutions — address the safety issues along the Calabarzon bypass and diversion roads, namely the installation of a solar-powered lighting system, construction of lay-bays and improvement of the telecommunication signals along these roads.
The Calabarzon RDC has crafted a five-year traffic management plan to address the worsening traffic situation in the region’s urban centers, which strategies include the construction of bypass and diversion roads.
The SCID also endorsed the 2017 Regional Development Report- Infrastructure Development Chapter and the Department of Trade and Industry – Department of Public Works and Highways Convergence Roads Leveraging Linkages for Industry and Trade (ROLL IT) Program.
Envisioned to further fuel the recent high growth of domestic investments as well as the surge in foreign direct investments of the country through more road projects under President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s “Build, Build, Build” program, DTI Calabarzon Regional Director Marilou Toledo, presented the ROLL IT Program with additional inputs from SCID co-chairperson Dir. Samson Hebra of DPWH Region 4-A.
Other endorsed resolutions include the additional projects of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) 4-A for 2019 budget and the membership of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Region 4 to the SCID.
To address the internet issue at the local level, the Calabarzon provinces were urged to submit inventories of areas with weak telecommunication signals to the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) for possible intervention.
The SCID also substantially commented on the draft final reports on the impact evaluation studies of Batangas Port Development Project Phase II and Marikina-Infanta Road.
NEDA also disclosed the SCID meeting agenda covering the proposed 2019 DPWH projects, updates on the removal of obstructions along road-right-of-way, Calabarzon Traffic Management Plan, choke points along Calabarzon roads and Road Development Plan in Polillo Group of Islands.
The sub-committee also touched on the guidelines on DOT-DPWH convergence program, Calabarzon ports, employees’ safety requirements and expertise for government infrastructure facilities, roles of LGUs in the protection of government facilities and DILG-validated LGU- initiated projects.
The RDC, a multi-sector council of government and private sector members serves as the highest regional socio-economic policy making body which crafts, reviews, assesses and endorses or approves development plans, programs and projects for the region. (PNA)
