The 53 rd Engineering Brigade of the Philippine Army, one of only five such brigades in the country, has undertaken 337 “Kalayaan Barangay Projects” in the Visayas Region worth P538,339,389 in 2008 and in the first months of 2009, Maj. Frederick Ancheta, information officer of the 53 rd engineer brigade, claimed.

Ancheta told the Kapihan forum in Negros Oriental that the brigade has completed 24 school buildings, 10 water works projects, eight health centers, three electrification projects, two street lighting projects and two farm-to-market road projects, while 106 infrastructure projects are ongoing in the region.

In Negros Oriental, 11 out of 34 KBP projects have been completed in first and second batches for 2008, while the third batch, consisting of 11 projects, awaits funding from the national government.

The completed projects are in Siaton , Valencia and Sta. Catalina.

Ancheta said that this year, P18 million worth of additional KBP projects will be implemented in four areas in the province identified as peace and development areas.

Intended beneficiaries are barangays Jantianon, Silab and Tambuhangin in Amlan and barangay Tubigon in Sibulan, Negros Oriental.

A total of 27 barangays are beneficiaries of the program distributed in 9 municipalities all over the province, he said.

In Negros Occidental, 39 KBP projects are being undertaken by the engineering brigade with funding of P69,746,700.

The projects are undertaken mostly in areas where private contractors cannot work because of security threats.

Ancheta said he hopes to fast-track the completion before the election public works ban takes effect.

Also present at the Kapihan forum was Col. Manuel Luis Ochotorena, deputy brigade commander of the 302 nd Brigade in Negros Oriental.*JG

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