The Cordillera Administrative Region was allotted a total of P2.89 billion worth of infrastructure projects under this year’s P1.227 trillion national budget.

This was disclosed by Engr. Mariano Alquiza, regional director of the Department of Public Works and Highways, who added that the huge allocation of funds for various projects in the region is an indication of the Arroyo administration’s sincerity in promoting rural development.

For the local government units in the Cordillera, Mountain Province topped the list with P864.8 M, followed by Kalinga with P533.32 M; Benguet had P520.67 M; Ifugao was allotted P357 M; Apayao got P342.86 M; Abra was given P138.89 M; and Baguio City received P100 M.

Alquiza said the P2.89 B fund allocation for the region is included under the agency’s regular fund, which will be implemented within the calendar year.

However, he cited more funds are yet to come for the LGUs because their regular fund does not include the identified priority projects of the congressmen which will be funded by their P70-M annual Priority Development Assistance Fund as well as their insertions and initiatives in the budget.

According to Alquiza, the huge allocation for several provinces is due to the inclusion of the Cordillera as one of the priority areas for development of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo under her so-called State of the Nation Address commitments.

Mountain Province, Ifugao, and Kalinga are the major recipients of multi-billion infrastructure development projects, particularly the completion of the phases two and three of the Halsema Highway rehabilitation project and the upgrading of the Bontoc-Tabuk-Tuguegarao road, aimed at improving accessibility from Regions 1, 2, and the Cordillera to spur economic development in remote areas of the country.

Alquiza assured that all the priority commitments of the President will be completed by the agency by the end of 2009 or early 2010 since the funds for the flagship projects have already been made available by Malacañang in the present and forthcoming executive budget of the national government.