AN INITIAL P700 million fund has been allocated by the national government for the rehabilitation of infrastructure damaged by last year’s devastating flood in Pangasinan, according to Gov. Amado Espino Jr.

Espino told newsmen that he himself lobbied and sought the amount from the national government to finally jumpstart the much-needed rehabilitation work.

“Hopefully, this can help alleviate the situation in the once flooded areas of Pangasinan,” Espino said, quickly adding that there is also a need to rehabilitate the damaged irrigation projects in order to assure ample water to the farms.

Espino said the P700 million allocation will be complemented by funds from the provincial government to help ease the plight of farmers affected by the calamity.

It was harvest season when the flood hit the province and so farmers were not able to save their crops and had no time to prepare for their second cropping.

Immediate repairs were undertaken following the devastation in October, but no major projects have really been started.

The governor conceded, however, that the amount from the national coffers, however, is just a drop in the bucket compared to the actual damages wrought by the flood, which was estimated to be over P9 billion.

Nevertheless, Espino said he is happy because help from the national government finally came.

He foresees that the first six months of the year will be spent for the rehabilitation of national roads, bridges, dikes and other infrastructures damaged by the flood.—LM

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