Cebu farm, ecotourism infra boosted

CEBU CITY – Cebu province will continue to fund its development infrastructure program to harness the potentials of its agriculture sector, ecotourism and rural livelihood and employment.

In a 2017 yearend report, Governor Hilario Davide III underscored the impact of development infrastructure — roads and bridges that lead to schools, farms and markets as well as eco-adventure tourism destinations in the province.

Davide said the province funded over R663 million worth of infrastructure and development projects in 2017. Among them are 125.5 kilometers of farm-to- market roads; 44 classrooms, potable water system; the repair and improvement of damaged roads in hinterland areas.

He said the integrated water system for Alegria town in July cost P95.6 million and is expected to benefit 3,187 households. “Alegria is one of the ecoadventure tourism destinations of the province,” Davide noted.

The province also spent R59.5 million repairing and damaged roads and R81.6 million for other water systems, tech-voc training centers, expansion of the Cebu Provincial Women and Children Crisis Center.

The national government, through the Philippine Rural Development, rolled out R210 million for water projects and 44 classrooms for 1,900 students, he said.

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has given the province about R237.6 million for road improvement and rehabilitation under the Conditional Matching Grant to provinces program.

In the same yearend report, the governor mentioned the role of farmers in providing goods and produce from the farms to the markets to the dining tables.

Last year R10 million was allocated for farming equipment, R6.3 million for dairy and meat safety equipment and R2.6 million for agricultural facilities.