Bicol Care
 16 September 2008

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MILENYO and Reming and the devastation it wrought on Bicol in 2006 may now be a hazy, harrowing memory for many Bicolanos, but to the President, the rehabilitation and repair in its aftermath is not to be forgotten. And woe unto them that fall short of Presidential expectations.

In the wake of the twin super typhoons in 2006, the President, with the help of Congress, created the B-CARE Fund or the Bicol Calamity Assistance and Rehabilitation Fund, for the rehabilitation, repair and restoration of infrastructure, public buildings and civil works.

At a recent visit of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to the Municipality of Libmanan, Camarines Sur, a 10-MW Biomass Power Plant (BPP) to augment the region’s electricity supply was launched. This is part of the rehabilitation infrastructure.

To be built at a cost of US million (P1.125 billion) the Biomass Plant will supply energy that is cheaper and renewable, using biological material and biodegradable wastes that can be burnt as fuel. The whole Bicol region is producing about 177,000 metric tons (MT) of rice plant husks and almost 600,000 MT coconut husks that can provide feedstock for the plant.

Aside from Libmanan, other power plants will be established in other areas of Bicol, such as Tabaco, Albay; Gubat, Sorsogon; Virac, Catanduanes; Sta. Elena, Camarines Norte; and Masbate City, Masbate. A typical biomass plant will directly benefit about 1,000 families.

Meanwhile, according to the National Disaster Coordinating Council, almost all projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways under B-CARE are already completed. In Camarines Sur, the Sabang Seawall worth P20 million, San Vicente Revetment in Milaor and the repair of Nabua-Batalan Road are 100% completed.

In other parts of Bicol, huge infrastructure projects are also reported finished -- the San Jose Bacacay Road in Albay, four (4) destroyed sections of Maharlika Highway in Camarines Norte, Catanduanes Circumferential Road, Masbate-Cataingan Road, and the Cawayan Dam in Sorsogon.

On the other hand, under the Department of Agriculture (DA), farm-to-market Roads (FMRs) in the province are being repaired, with 18 already completed, such as the Camangahan-Caorasan Road and Cagmanaba Road. In other parts of Bicol such as Sorsogon, DA also distributed some farming materials worth P7.3 million.

For irrigation, more than half of the 60 irrigation projects of the National Irrigation Administration are already completed. Other projects are ongoing, with some already 75% complete such as the Tigman-Hinagyaman-Inarihan Irrigation System in Bon.

All hospital repairs, under the Department of Health, are already complete, Among them the Center for Health Development in San Fernando, Camarines Sur.

School repairs, according to the Department of Education, are already 100% completed, including the schools located in Naga City. Last December, during the Local Peace Assembly in Masbate, the President directed the establishment of additional high schools in Camarines Sur and Masbate, but because building the schools will take some time, she instructed Secretary Rolando Andaya to release funds for scholarship grants to 4,000 poor high school students in Camarines Sur, and additional 4,000 in Masbate.

To provide environmental protection, flood control and supply clean water, the President has prioritized the Bicol River Basin project.

With the ongoing improvement and creation of various infrastructure and social services projects under the B-CARE, and the establishment of Biomass Power Plants, total rehabilitation and advancement of Bicol region is within reach.

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