Road rehab project in Guimaras to boost tourism industry in Western Visayas

2009/04/24

Road rehab project in Guimaras to boost tourism industry in Western Visayas

by Jemin B. Guillermo

Roxas City (24 April) -- The Australian government has already signaled the maintenance and rehabilitation of the provincial road in Guimaras.

Interior and Local Government Undersecretary for Local Government Austere Panadero disclosed in an online news that the the provincial government of Guimaras has already entered into an agreement with the Australian govenrment for the maintenancew and rehanilitation of road projects in said province.

He added that with said project, Guimaras province, which has been known for its Manggahan Festival, will definitely improve its tourism industry not only in Western Visayas but in the Philippines.

Signatories to said agreement, which was held recently in said province, were Guimaras Governor Felipe Hilan Nava and Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Rod Smith, Panadero said.

He said the road maintenance project is a means of improving the province's tourism master plan and eventually developing its tourism industry.

Panadero stressed that under the Provincial Road Management Facility, a five-year project, the Australian government will assist the Philippine government managing and maintaining a core network of 1000 kilometers of provincial roads in some 10 provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao.

He added that the province of Guimaras is among the 10 provinces identified as beneficiary of the project.

Accordingly, the Australian government through the Aus AID will provide about P3.8 billion or Aus$100 million for the projects.

Panadero said the project aims to heighten the economic growth of participating local government units and improve access to public infrastructure and services.

He explained that the Australian government has been a partner of the DILG in providing technical assistance for the improvement of transport services in the country.

Under the PRM Facility, the two governments will undertake capacity building programs that would help provincial governments in the maintenance of roads in their respective localities, Panadero said. (PIA)

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