NegOr guv orders urgent completion of unimplemented infra projects
by: Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, March 17 (PIA) --- Alarmed by the growing number of unimplemented infrastructure projects in Negros Oriental, Gov. Roel Degamo has ordered the immediate completion of said projects within this year.
The governor in a meeting with the provincial government engineers ordered the latter to complete the infrastructure projects slated to be implemented, most of which were planned during the leaderships of the late Governors Emilio Macias II and Agustin Perdices.
Degamo said the projects were not implemented straightaway due to the lengthy procurement process of the provincial government.
“I looked into this problem and the process is shortered because these projects should be implemented immediately,” he stressed.
Though the governor could not say how many infrastructure projects have not been completed, only describing it as “too many to count,” these projects are collectively worth more than P40 million which also includes his own infrastructure projects lined up for implementation this year.
The projects to be implemented are construction of roads, health centers, barangay halls, drainage canals, water systems, completion of community hospitals and concreting of roads, among others.
Capitol Information Officer Adrian Sedillo, in a separate interview, said under the late Gov. Perdices' stint, there were around 70 projects that were not implemented.
Sedillo said the current governor also wants the construction of the unfinished Perdices Coliseum Hotel completed this year.
The governor has likewise ordered the engineers to submit accomplishment reports to his office every week “so I can check whether they are keeping up their end of our agreement.” (PIA-NegOr/RMN)
Dormitory for government scholars soon to rise in Guihulngan
by: Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, March 17 (PIA) --- Government scholars studying in Guihulngan City will soon have the chance to benefit from a free dormitory that a lady legislator is planning to erect inside the Negros Oriental State University (NORSU) campus.
This after Board Member Jessica Villanueva was able to secure funds from government officials for the construction of her proposed P3-million dormitory intended for government scholars in Guihulngan City.
Villanueva said Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano and Gov. Roel Degamo have each pledged to sink P1 million for the construction of a two-storey dormitory building within the NORSU Guihulngan Campus.
Set up barracks-style, the first floor will be for male students while the second floor will accommodate female students with a common mess hall, laundry area and study rooms.
“Sen. Cayetano has emphasized that there should be a study area in the dormitory,” said Villanueva.
The dormitory can only house 100 students in a campus with close to 2,000 scholars. A committee will be formed to screen the students who are interested to stay in the dormitory.
"We will be prioritizing those who are from far-flung and hinterland areas,” explained Villanueva, who sits as chairman of the the Committee on Education at the Provincial Board.
Villanueva is hopeful that the dormitory will address the financial woes of parents who have a hard time ensuring that their children finish their college education.
“With the free dormitory, it will lessen the expenses faced by parents in sending their children to college,” said the lady board member.
Guihulngan City Mayor Ernesto Reyes have also pledged to provide sand and gravel for the construction of the dormitory and for a dormitory caretaker which will be paid for by the city government while soldiers of the Philippine Army unit based in Guihulngan will serve as the manpower resources during the construction.
Villanueva is targeting the dormitory completion before the start of school in June. However, as of this writing, construction has not yet started pending the arrival of the promised funds from the office of Sen. Cayetano. (PIA-Negros Oriental/RMN)