Australian Government Supports Road Improvement in BoholBusiness Mirror
June 11, 2009
AUSTRALIAN Ambassador Rod Smith, Interior and Local Government undersecretary Austere Panadero, and Gov. Erico Aumentado recently signed an agreement to help improve road infrastructure in Bohol.
The provincial-road management facility is a five-year, P3.8-billion program funded by Canberra to help Manila manage and maintain more than 1,000 kilometers of provincial roads in up to 10 provinces in Mindanao and the Visayas.
Bohol is one of the initial seven provinces to benefit from the program. Under the agreement, the Canberra, through its international development agency Austalian Agency for International Development, will provide about P35 million for the program’s first year of implementation to rehabilitate and maintain more than 25 kilometers of roads in Bohol.
Additional funding of up to P35 million would be available as an incentive should the provincial government achieve the agreed governance reforms.
The additional funds may be used for road-related infrastructure works and other provincial government development priorities to further improve service delivery.
“Infrastructure investment drives development. That is why Australia is working with the Philippine government, at both the national and local levels, to increase investment in transport infrastructure. Improving road transport will boost the local economy of Bohol,†Smith said.
In Bohol, road works for the first year will prioritize road segments that link key economic and social service areas—tourism, agriculture, education and medical health—to people and markets.
“People will have better access to rehabilitated and maintained road networks, economic activity, public infrastructure and services that will improve their livelihoods. Better roads will also improve access to jobs, health services and essential social and educational facilities in rural and regional areas,†Smith said.
“The signing of this agreement is an important step in establishing the fundamentals for the success of the provincial-road management facility: strong relationships between provincial government, the Government of Australia, the Philippine Department of Interior and Local Government and local civil society groups.â€
Australia is a long-standing development partner of the Philippines and one of the country’s largest bilateral grant aid donors.
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Topic: Bohol to Have Better Roads Courtesy of Australian Government (Read 934 times)