CAMP LAPU LAPU, Cebu City – In line with the implementation of the Kalayaan sa Barangay Program (KBP), a program which seeks to bring development in previously rebel-infested areas, the 53rd Engineering Brigade of the Central Command disclosed that another 24 infrastructure projects worth P31.5 million are now ongoing in the province of Negros Oriental.

It can be recalled that the province of Negros Oriental and Samar have been identified as the priority areas for the KBP, as these areas continue to be plagued with insurgency.

Col. Arnaldo Fernandez, Commander, 53rd Engineer Brigade, said the first batch of KBP projects have already been finished, his command is now gearing for the completion of the second which include the 24 infrastructure projects located in five municipalities of Negros Oriental.

Fernandez disclosed that of the 24 infra projects, 11, worth P13.5 million, are located in the municipalities of Siaton, Valencia and Sta. Catalina, and the rest are in the towns of Amlan and Sibulan with a project cost of P18 million.

Meanwhile, said projects which have been identified by the stakeholders of beneficiary barangays vary from suitable access that include the “Kalayaan Roads,” two-classroom school buildings, level II water system facilities, electricity installation projects and suitable medical facilities.

“These basic infrastructure projects are essential to boost the commerce and industry of the concerned province,” said Fernandez.

Moreover, to make the projects more useful value-added features like toilets, blackboards, teacher’s table with chair, flagpole and electrical utilities are also being provided by the unit in every completed project.

“Even if these things are not included in the approved Program of Works for the budget allocation, we make it a point that each projects under our unit will have these important facilities,” he said.

On the other hand, ongoing KBP projects are expected to provide job opportunities to the beneficiary barangays as part of the “Hire for Peace” program of the National Development Support Command of the AFP where local residents, especially the “rebel returnees,” are given the priority to avail of jobs needed in the projects’s labor force component.

As of press time, six school buildings, three health centers and three water supply systems have already been completed in Negros Oriental province.