PGMA completes NLAQ road project in Nueva Vizcaya
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Dupax del Norte, Nueva Vizcaya (May 4) -- One of the road projects that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
promised under the North Luzon Agri-business Quadrangle (NLAQ) has been fully completed.
Officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) here said the more than 13 kilometer
Bitnong-Belance road project which was started in November 6, 2008 has been actually completed in April 30
this year, according to Engineer Marifel Andes, assistant district engineer of the DPWH north district here.
The construction of the Bitnung-Belance road project was committed in 2008 by President Arroyo in her visit to
the 68th birthday of Bishop Ramon Villena of the diocese of Bayombong and Quirino.
The road project is part of President Arroyo?s accomplishments under the North Luzon Agri-business
Quadrangle (NLAQ) which seeks to harness the potentials of North Luzon as agri-business hub of the country.
The road project, used by upland indigenous farmers in transporting their products was funded under the
General Appropriations Act - Regular Infrastructure Program (GAA-RIP).
Funded with P330 million, it went into three construction phases with concreting of 5.22 kilometers in 2008 with
P130 million, asphalting of 3.242 kilometer road with P100 million and the asphalting of 4.732 kilometer road
with P100 million.
"This road project does not only help farmers in transporting their products but will also trigger other economic
activities particularly fruit and vegetable trading in the municipalities of Bambang, Bayombong, Aritao and
Solano," stressed Engr. Andes.
She added that the road project will also encourage the opening of new businesses in barangay Belance like
transport, retail and commerce and will open new jobs due to the entry of new investments in the area.
Aside from farmers within barangay Belance, the road will also serve other villagers in barangays Bitnung, Oyao
and Macabenga.
"We are very grateful for this project because it made the transportation of our local products easier, faster and
at a lower cost," said mayor Antonio Palugod.
Palugod said the road project had been one of the major problems of their local government unit since heavy
rains usually destroy several road portions, hampering the transport of local agricultural crops to the market.
Barangay Belance is an agricultural-rich barangay with a cool climate all year round which is conducive to
farming and planting of fruits, vegetables and root crops like citrus, cabbage, lettuce, yacon, ginger, and sweet
potato among others.
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ICT Davao vows to help provincial ICT groups
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Davao City (4 May) -- The umbrella organization of the information and communications technology (ICT) sector
of Davao City has committed to assist the provinces who would like to have their ICT groups.
Lizabel "Wit" Holganza, ICT Davao Inc. past president and Davao Region ICT Cluster chair, said during the
Davao Regional Clusters Forum last April 12 that her group along with the member-organizations are willing to
extend consultancy services to those who are keen on developing their own ICT sector.
Holganza said that with the assistance that the ICT Davao can give, they are hoping that the provinces will really
be encouraged to form their ICT groups that will lead in crafting their respective ICT roadmap.
Holganza added that because of the broad membership of the ICT Davao, they can provide opinions or inputs
on different ICT sub-sectors.
The ICT Davao is composed of 10 associations representing different sectors which include the business
process outsourcing (BPO), software development, internet café, academe, transcription, and animation and
graphic development.
"The challenge is how to mobilize this big group. Despite that, we're very proud that we have engaged so many
sectors. And we're happy that because of DICCEP (Davao Industry Cluster Capacity Enhancement Project), we
have engaged the animators and graphics developers," she said.
Holganza cited the assistance given by a member of ICT Davao, the Internet Café Association of Davao (ICAD),
to Tagum City in establishing its own internet café organization.
"ICAD has been serving as the big brother. Ang huling tinulungan nga nila ay ang Tagum City," she said.
Holganza said that ICT Davao as a whole is also helping the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in
acquiring cost-effective software and hardware.
Last April 24 and 25, the group spearheaded the launching of "e-Tapok" at the Damosa Gateway in Davao City.
The e-Tapok is an initiative aimed at gathering electronics junks or unserviceable ICT equipments.
DICCEP Manager and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 11 Management Support and Special Concerns
Division (MSSCD) chief Romeo L. Castañaga said that the e-Tapok is a manifestation that the group doesn't
only advocate for ICT development but as well as environment protection.
"This means that the ICT sector is aware that development always comes with responsibility. You don't just
keep on pushing for economic growth but balance it with environment protection," he said.
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