BY: MINERVA BC NEWMAN
CEBU CITY, August 28 (PIA) – Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor thru their respective governors inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA-7), Australian Aid and The Asia Foundation in the Philippines for new roads and infrastructure reforms.
The signing was done during the formal launching of the Coordinating Roads and Infrastructure Investment for Development (CR+ID) project on August 27 at the Harold’s hotel in Cebu City.
In his keynote message, Australian Embassy Deputy Head of Mission, Hon. David Dutton said the Australian government through the Australian Aid (AusAID) has been a consistent partner of the Philippines in government development through its various projects in support to the country’s economic growth.
“We need to work creatively, to look for innovations to create economic growth in the Philippines, Dutton said.
The Australian government has adjusted (in a couple of years) its programs to fit with the realities of development in the regions, Dutton added.
According to him, AusAID has been working closely with sectors that promote health, agriculture, infrastructure, gender equality, among others and always looking for innovations to achieved the very best results.
“Close alignment with our attitudes and objectives on development as basis of partnerships of both countries. We will introduce new programs including infrastructure to promote economic development of the partner countries,” Dutton added.
He particularly quoted a tagline from the SONA of President Benigno Aquino that “Good economics is good government “which sums up why the CR+ID expands in Central Visayas,” Dutton noted.
“We are delighted to work in Bohol where the CR+ID is being lauded today and we will be equally delighted to be working with the other provinces within the Central Visayas region,” Dutton said.
Bohol governor who is also the chair of the Regional Development Council (RDC) here said, “We are in for a long journey of partnership.”
Chatto validated the effectiveness of the CR+ID process as the mechanism used in creating, choosing or identifying projects from the ground up to achieve more chances of approval from funding institutions both local and foreign.
The CR+ID project uses the value chain analysis with the private sector particularly the local chambers of commerce to identify strategic road links.
These are interconnected roads within the province, regardless of classification, and these are most often used in transporting goods and people.
The CR+ID project analysis is done through a technical and participatory process including consultations with various sectors and key informants and mapping of the roads using the geographic information system (GIS).
These strategic road links are used as “roads investment registry” where national and local government agencies with funds for roads can consider for their respective budget allocations.
This year, the Australia Government and The Asia Foundation jointly agreed to expand CR+ID in two ways; thematically, to include not only roads but also key infrastructure with disaster risk and hazard identification and geographically, to include all provinces in regions 7 and 8 as well as the three provinces in region 6.
The CR+ID also works to strengthen the Regional Development Council for broader participation in the realms of investment programming. (mbcn/PIA7)