By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Municipal Development Fund Office (MDFO) recently approved P1.4 billion worth of Negros Occidental infrastructure projects.

The MDF is administered by the Department of Finance-Bureau of Local Government Finance and the Department of Public Works and Highways-Central Project Office.

According to Negros Occidental Provincial Board Member Salvador Escalante, Jr., who chairs the finance committee, P549 million is intended for the construction of farm-to-market roads.

Other projects include P86 million for the Sagay Port, P30 million for the Kabankalan City Airport runway, and P58.6 million for the San Enrique Public Market.

Back in August of this year, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) allocated P30 million for the construction of the said runway. At the time, Kabankalan City Mayor Isidro Zayco said a P30 million counterpart allocation had already been set aside by both the city government and Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr.

Meanwhile, during their regular session last Wednesday, the Provincial Board approved the 2017 General Fund supplemental budget No. 5, which amounted to P140 million for three infrastructure projects in the province.

Escalante said the approval paves the way for the bidding process of three infrastructure projects, including a P30 million circumferential road in San Carlos City; a P60 million bridge in Barangay Camang-Camang, Isabela; and a two-story Capitol office building in Bacolod City./DGB, WDJ