Vice Governor Rene Lopez Relampagos and the members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Bohol (SP) approved on Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022, a resolution, approving the Supplemental Investment Program No. 2 (SIP) of the Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) in the amount of P6,437,489,782, reports say.
The aforementioned SIP includes the additional investment requirement of the updated progressive Bohol post-typhoon Odette rehabilitation and recovery program (BPTORRP).
The approval of the SIP is a vital requirement for possible allocation of funds for the province from the National Government and other funding sources leading to the realization of various programs, projects, and activities aimed at he
the recovery and rehabilitation of those affected by the typhoon.
Prior to the approval of the resolution, a thorough discussion was conducted wherein resource persons from the Provincial Budget Office, Provincial Planning and Development Office, Bohol Environment and Management Office, and other offices at the Capitol were invited to explain the proposed programs under the SIP.
According to Provincial Budget Officer Peter Ross Retutal, the SIP’s amount covers the identified priority programs, projects and activities of the PGBh, such as the additional investment requirements for the implementation of the BPTORRP, the conduct of feasibility study and derailed engineering design for various development priorities in the province and in preparation for the Sustainable Inclusive Resilient Tourism (SIRT) projects here in the province.
A large part of the SiP covers the funding requirement for the BPTORRP
in the amount of P 6,432,633,317.
As reported by Provincial Planning and Development Officer John Titus Vistal, as of Feb. 2, 2022, the total progressive estimated damage cost as a result of the onslaught of typhoon Odette in the province is pagged at P25,106,605,000 with the corresponding total estimated rehabilitation cost of P34,205,019,000.
Moreover, Vistal added that as of Feb. 14, 2022, the progressive reported number of damaged houses have increased to 289,045, which comprises of 87,622 totally damaged houses and 201,423 partially damaged houses.
Vistal said the progressive damage cost estimate for infrastructure is placed at P8,318,718,000 with a rehabilitation cost estimate of P17,464,334,000.
Furthermore, the rehabilitation program includes the plan to install street lights with solar panels that would be placed along national roads.
An estimated 35,000 sets of solar-powered street lights are needed to light up the national roads located in the province with a total length of 698,192 meters, according to reports.
Relampagos said the SIP is a sort of a “wish list” by the PGBh. The programs and projects included in the SIP are yet to be funded either from National Government coffers or other funding agencies.
The SIP serves as a guide or list of priority projects and activities of a local government unit, such as Bohol. The SIP is also a requirement of any funding agency, including the National Government.
Relampagos added that the rationale behind the SIP’s enormous amount is to ensure that all priority programs, projects and activities of the PGBh are included for possible budget allocation coming from the National Government and other funding agencies.