The Regional Development Council (RDC) 13 (Caraga Region) is set to seek President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s approval of three priority projects amounting to more than PHP231 billion.
The joint full council advisory committee meeting on Thursday was presided over by RDC-13 chair, Dinagat Islands Governor Nilo Demerey Jr., and attended by the heads of the different line agencies of the government and the local government units.
“The three big-ticket projects will involve connectivity through road networks, upgrading of health facilities, and the implementation of agricultural technologies that will benefit our farmers,” Demerey told the Philippine News Agency in an interview on the sidelines of the meeting.
He said the three priority projects, which were already endorsed by the body during the full council meeting, are included in the Regional Investment Program 2023-2028 for Fiscal Year 2025.
Of the three, the construction of the Surigao City – Nonoc Island – Dinagat – Leyte road network is the biggest with a total allocation of PHP167.9 billion.
“The connectivity through this project will answer the problem of the inadequate mode of transportation, especially during adverse weather conditions, which in turn greatly affect the transportation of goods and services,” Demerey said.
The project will involve the construction of four coastal viaduct roads spanning 20.77 km.; a 3.2 km. bridge from Surigao City to Nonoc Island and a 1.2-km. bridge from Nonoc Island to Dinagat Islands; and a 0.80-km. and a 0.20-km. bridges within the Dinagat Islands.
A long-span bridge with a distance of 28 km. will also be constructed to connect Tubajon in Dinagat to Anahawan in Leyte.
The RDC-13 will also lobby the full functionality of Level III hospitals and the upgrading of Level I hospitals in Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Norte, and Surigao del Sur, amounting to PHP63.3 billion.
The third project for presentation to the President is the Integrated Grains Processing Center in San Miguel, Surigao del Sur with a total budget of PHP203 million.
Demerey said the RDC-13 is scheduled to meet with the President in April. (PNA)
