P-Noy surprise, but watch out for Spines surprise, too

By Al S. Mendoza

WHILE we were sleeping, President Aquino came up with a surprise before he flew to Russia for the Apec summit the week past.

He approved the P407-billion project designed primarily to finally control flooding in Metro Manila and its environs.

The monumental act was done in his capacity as chairman of the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda)

Cheers for beers to that.

While the bulk of the budget is for flood control in Metro Manila, much will also be spent to address improvement of access to several provinces in Luzon.

If I know the President, he would include our beloved Pangasinan as part of his new game plan since it also involves infrastructure and deals with the transportation problem.

We all know that our province is a vital link to the so-called Solid North.  Isn’t the SCTEx alone now being expanded up to Rosario, La Union.  When finally completed, it will cut travel time from Manila to Baguio by nearly two hours.

From the approved P407-billion project, P351 billion had been earmarked for a master plan to control flooding in Metro Manila and suburbs to include towns of Rizal, Cavite, Laguna and Bulacan.

Already, P5 billion has been practically disbursed to build various floodways and drainage systems to improve river flow in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

But to look at the overall flooding program plan is already a story of magnificence:  Its target operation is from 2012 to 2035!  Twenty-three years! Wow!

In the master plan also are two airports projects in Daraga, Albay, to be built from 2013 to 2015 worth P4.8 billion, and in Panglao, Bohol, that is expected to open in 2017 at a cost of P7.4 billion.

Easily, those can be gleaned as projects geared towards tourism—the majestic Mayon Volcano being in Albay, and the chocolate hills and the world-famed tarsier being Bohol’s chief contributions to global heritage.

Now, you might ask:  What about the Alaminos airport planned under the past Arroyo administration?

I checked and checked the master plan.  I can’t find it.  No Alaminos International Airport at all in the radar which, if hatched and finally built to completion, would surely boost growth in Pangasinan.

Hey, fellas, Lucap’s Hundred Islands no longer a world attraction as to merit the construction of an airport in Alaminos?

I think somebody’s got to call the attention of P-Noy on this.

But never mind.  Knowing Guv Spines, he should be having some game plans of his own.  Airport or none, he’d be able soon to flick out another ace up his sleeves.

Just you wait, fellas.

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