To continue from the previous weeks’ topics, it is time to tie them up and give it a wrap.
The Eastern Visayas region is on a splurge with unprecedented government projects and amounts of public spending. From a budget standpoint, the volume of funding is record-breaking.
Perhaps a sizeable number of people are unaware of these. Many only know bits and pieces here and there. That is why multi-media channels like this newspaper, OpinYon, have a vital role to play in making people aware and supportive.
Something big is happening in this region. And there will be many more. It is possible to think of the situation as a problem of not having feasible project ideas and not a lack of funding support.
As stated in this column, the total funding at this time for the on-going key government projects could reach 40 billion pesos. More projects are coming. This amount can easily double.
Linkages Are Assumed
What is emerging is a surge of government funding in key infrastructure projects. As observed in earlier issues, these projects need other projects in agriculture. Industry and tourism to support.
For example, the international seaport and the international airport do not have clear links with projects in agriculture, industry and tourism that are already on-going or ready for funding. The linkages are assumed. We should be wary of assumptions. Many of them turn out to be wrong.
The integrated area approach to project planning and implementation must be revived so the government is aware of the need to create geographically linked projects. This method reduces undeserved assumptions.
From this view, the response of the private sector is weak.
Making this response grow in tandem with the infra thrusts is critical. The proponents of these projects must improve the way they deal with the situation by making active efforts to reach out and encourage private businesses from inside and outside this region to take advantage of the huge investments made by the government, especially in the first district of Leyte.
Too Much Waiting
Perhaps, the first district of Leyte must have a District Development Plan similar to the one prepared by NEDA in 2012 for the district of Cong. Lucy Torres-Gomez.
Under our economic situation, it is not safe to assume and expect that the private sector will respond on its own. The sector needs strong prodding. Local investors have made efforts, but these have been weak and unable to take advantage of the presence of the Babatngon seaport and the Tacloban airport which in two years will meet international standards.
The private business groups seem to be waiting in the wings. Too much waiting is harmful to the economy. These represent foregone employment and income and of course foregone profits.
If our leaders, both elective and appointive, play their cards right, we can conquer poverty in probably ten years, or at least match the national average which is now a third lower and better than that our regional poverty level.
We Can Do It
We go for all the marbles (without losing them in the process). Take political risks, so that we immensely benefit from them. And possibly even adding to it so that the political groundwork is laid firmly for the next twenty years.
We can do it. The conditions for these have never been better. It could be this region’s last chance, a shot worth taking.
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