Boracay road rehab gets more funding

BUDGET SECRETARY Benjamin Diokno said the government is releasing some P490 million for the rehabilitation of the Boracay Circumferential Road and this is on top of the initial budget of P50 million allocated under the 2018 fund of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

“They already have P50 million in the budget and that is what they are using right now. In a few days, we’ll release the P490 million. This is just for the road components,” Diokno said.

The Boracay Circumferential Road rehabilitation involves widening of road and improving the drainage system.

The DBM recently released P448 million to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for financial assistance to some 17,735 residents and workers who were affected by the six-month closure of Boracay.

Diokno said both funds for the DOLE and DPWH were sourced from the government’s contingency fund amounting to about P13 billion this year. He said aside from the contingency fund, the government is tapping the calamity fund for Boracay's rehabilitation. “By declaring the area as calamity area, we can have access to calamity fund,” Diokno said.

He said other government agencies with projects and programs related to Boracay's rehabilitation are expected to request additional fund from the national government. Earlier, Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez said his office will be seeking some P300 million from the Boracay rehabilitation fund to help small-scale enterprises on the island.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Malacañang is eyeing P2 billion from the calamity fund to support the world-famous island resort's rehabilitation.