The ULAP meeting
 16 Oct. 2007

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The meeting at Heroes Hall in Malacañang last Thursday, October 11, 2007, was about the SONA (State of the Nation Address) and MTPIP (Medium Term Philippine Investment Plan) priority projects.

In attendance were members of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) and the Regional Development Councils.

Presentors at the meeting were: Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process and Agri-business Mindanao Development Champion, Secretary Jesus G. Dureza; Department of Tourism Secretary and Central Philippines Development Champion Secretary Joseph "Ace" H. Durano; Department of Agriculture Secretary and North Luzon Agri-business Quadrangle (NLAQ) Development Champion Arthur C. Yap, represented by Usec Jesus Parras; SCAD Chairman and Luzon Urban Beltway (LUB) Development Champion Secretary Edgardo D. Pamintuan; and Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) Chairman and Cyber Corridor Development Champion Secretary Ray Anthony Roxas-Chua III.

Trade Secretary Peter B. Favila presented the China Official Development Assistance Program.

Highlighted in the super regions presentation were the major infrastructure projects and their status, to wit: NLAQ — 3 major road projects, 1 ahead of schedule, 2 delayed; 3 irrigation projects, 2 ahead of schedule, 1 delayed; 5 airport projects, 1 ahead of schedule, 4 delayed; 2 cold chain projects, both on schedule; 1 tramline project, completed; 2 flood control projects, 1 ahead of schedule, 1 delayed. LUB: 45 projects representing over R500B worth of investments, as follows: 2 airport projects, 3 water projects, 4 seaport projects, 8 railway projects, 15 road projects, 2 flood control projects, 2 hospital projects, 6 power and electrification projects, housing projects, irrigation projects, and a sewerage treatment project. Central Philippines: airports, 2 completed, 14 on-going; sea ports, 2 completed, 13 on-going; roads, 6 on-going; for a total of 4 completed, 33 on-going, at an estimated investment of R32.3 billion. Agribusiness Mindanao: 1 bridge R2.1 billion; power plant, US5M; 11 small irrigation systems; 3 ports; and GEM 2 program, all completed; on-going projects — airports, 7; ports, 2; roads, 9; power projects, 2; bridges, 1; irrigation, 2. Cyber Corridor: 5 major infrastructure projects, including policy and program support for the business process outsourcing industry, software development, animation, and engineering design.

The role of ULAP in the hunger mitigation programs of Government was also highlighted in the meeting.

Since that meeting last Thursday, nothing has been heard in media of the super regions.

Meanwhile, the projects plod on, hopefully to be completed by 2010 with the full support of ULAP. When that comes to pass, the objective of the ULAP meeting will have been achieved fully.

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