PUERTO PRINCESA CITY — Palaweños gave President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo a loud cheer of approval when she announced the release of the second
R300-million development assistance from the net government share in the sales proceeds from the Malampaya deepwater-gas-to-power project.
The President announced the development assistance package during the K-4 campaign rally at the Puerto Princesa Coliseum here last Friday.
The second P300-million fund is in accordance with Executive Order No. 254 issued in December 2003. The EO also provided the release of the first R300-million assistance package for development and environmental projects of Palawan.
The President said that the second R300-million fund will be released to the provincial government to fund specific developmental concerns and projects.
Based on Executive Order 254-A signed by President Arroyo last March 3, the projects that will be funded with the second P300-million fund include the following: P43,100,000, barangay livelihood programs, with the 431 barangays of the province getting P100,000 and R69 million for municipal livelihood programs with the 23 towns getting P3 million each.
Also included in the package are P40 million for the acquisition of land and development of the EL Nido municipal airport; P15 million for barangay electrification projects; P20 million for the purchase of land for relocation of landless residents of Puerto Princesa City; P5 million for livelihood programs for market vendors in Puerto Princesa; P20 million for the widening and drainage improvement of Rizal Ave. in Puerto Princesa; P30 million for the concreting of the Iwahig-Sta Lucia section of Palawan south road; P11.9 million for the construction of the Barangay Convergence Center in Puerto Princesa; P20 million for the Arroyo scholarship program for 1,000 students taking up specific courses at the Palawan State University and the recently converted Western Philippines University.
Other projects in the package are P10 million for the construction of additional facilities for the Ospital ng Palawan; P10 million for the construction of the PSU building; P6 million for the construction of municipal buildings in the municipalities of Agutaya and Cagayancillo.
Palawan Gov. Joel T. Reyes thanked the President for fulfilling her commitment to the Palaweños, saying that the additional R300M will further boost the province’s development.
"The infrastructure projects will provide employment opportunities and will spur economic activities, while the support for education and health and barangay affairs provide immediate response to basic needs. These projects will definitely create an impact on the socio-economic well-being of the Palaweños," Reyes said.
He also cited the efforts of Energy Secretary Vince Perez, who is the Cabinet officer for Palawan. "Secretary Perez worked hard to make EO 254-A a reality," the governor noted.
In the President’s executive order, it was stated that Malacañang’s development assistance to Palawan is without prejudice to any on-going discussions or legal disputes regarding the national government’s territorial jurisdiction over Malampaya.
