(File Photo)
QUEZON CITY, (PIA) – A budget allocation of P215.643 billion will fund the construction and rehabilitation of flood mitigation facilities in the major river basins and principal rivers of the country, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) reported.
The said allocation will be sourced from the proposed P822.2 billion national budget for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the 2024 National Expenditure Program (NEP).
In particular, flood management received the largest budget share among the key programs of the DPWH towards addressing the perennial problem of flooding especially in low-lying areas.
Under the 2023 General Appropriations Act (GAA), the DPWH also secured the highest climate change expenditure amounting to P361.5 billion which was mainly utilized for the completion of 2,103 flood control projects.
Meanwhile, the DBM made equally significant budget provisions for the continuation of primary infrastructure projects aimed at ensuring a safe and reliable national road network.
“As highlighted by the President during his second State of the Nation Address (SONA), infrastructure development is one of the key drivers of our continuing economic growth. As such, we will sustain this momentum through the Build Better More Program. This will prioritize physical connectivity infrastructure such as road networks and railway systems,” said Budget Secretary Pangandaman.
These include an allocation of P148.112 billion to the construction of 721.656 kilometers of new roads and widening of 647.288 kilometers of existing roads.
The budget department meanwhile allotted P115.588 billion for the preventive maintenance of 1,196.398 kilometers of roads and repair of 798.711 kilometers of damaged roads.
On the other hand, P45.839 billion has been set aside for the construction, maintenance, and retrofitting of 15,208.83 lineal meters of bridges as well as the widening of 525 existing bridges.
The DBM likewise allotted P174.089 billion for the implementation of the Convergence and Special Support Program which will allow the effective local distribution of technical projects requiring multi-sectoral efforts.
Moreover, to complement the initiatives of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Department of Tourism (DOT) in promoting the cultural treasures of the country, the Tourism Road Infrastructure Program will receive a separate funding of P13.968 billion to prioritize the establishment of access roads traversing the local tourism destinations.
The proposed 2024 DPWH budget will also cover a Quick Response Fund (QRF) amounting tio P1.0 billion to meet the immediate rehabilitation and logistic needs of people affected by calamities, epidemics, catastrophes, and other natural calamities.
Other allocations consist of a P10.020 budget provision for the Roads Leveraging Linkages under the Industry and Trade Infrastructure Program, P3.8 billion for the Tatag ng Imprastraktura para sa Kapayapaan at Seguridad (TIKAS) Program aimed at strengthening the readiness of military and police facilities, as well as P15.232 billion for the construction and rehabilitation of other roads, bridges, and road drainage. (DPWH/PIA-NCR)
