The Sangguniang Panlalawigan has yet to grant Governor Patrick Alain T. Azanza’s request for authority to enter into separate Memoranda of Agreement with four national agencies for the implementation of their infrastructure projects in Catanduanes.
In response to a Tribune query as to the status of the governor’s requests which the latter has certified as “urgent,” a senior member of the provincial board hinted at the likelihood that the request for authority would be granted.
But this would be dependent on the identification of the exact projects that the concerned agencies would allow the provincial government to implement, the PBM said.
For now, he added, the SP just wants to assure the national agencies that the PLGU is fully capable of implementing their respective projects.
The other Monday during their regular session, the provincial board passed three similarly-worded measures “expressing, affirming and certifying the commitment, readiness, and implementing capability” of the province and its 11 municipalities to support and implement the three agencies’ programs and projects.
The measures also “conveyed assurance and full support” to each of the agencies for the effective, transparent, and timely implementation of national and local infrastructure projects.
Early this February, Gov. Azanza sent separate letters addressed to Vice Governor Robert A. Fernandez and the provincial board members asking the SP to grant authority to enter into and sign a MOA with the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Education (DepEd) and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for the implementation of their respective projects intended for Catanduanes.
With regards to the DA, the governor wants the province to implement the construction of P230 million work of Farm-to-Market Roads (FMRs) which he said aims to improve farm accessibility, reduce transportation costs, and facilitate the efficient movement of agricultural products from production areas to market centers.
‘This initiative is expected to significantly benefit local farmers and contribute to the overall economic development in the province,” the chief executive stressed.
The P230 million FMR projects in Catanduanes are part of the DA’s budget of P33 billion for the construction, improvement, rehabilitation and repair of FMRs in the entire country this year.
Under the CY 2026 General Appropriation Act (GAA), the DA may enter into MOA with the DPWH, qualified local government units or through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) for the implementation of the FMRs.
After their completion, the projects will be turned over to the LGUs, which will be responsible for the the maintenance of the FMRs.
A list submitted by Gov. Azanza to the SP shows that the DA has allocated P15 million each for the following construction/concreting of the following FMRs: Banawang to Sitio Bontosanan in Bato; Tariwara to Canlubi in Pandan; Hinipaan to Cahan in Bagamanoc; Obo to Dayawa in San Miguel; Rizal in Viga; F. Tacorda to Calampong in Virac; Panique to sitio San Jose, Mabini in Caramoran; Alinawan to Maculiw in Panganiban;
San Vicente in San Andres; and San Pedro to Nahulugan Falls in Gigmoto.
Getting higher funding are the FMRs in Porot to San Isidro in Pandan with P30 million and Agban in Baras with P50 million.
Also submitted by the chief executive is a listing of DOH projects for the province under the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP): P4 million in medical equipment for the underutilized Panganiban Super Health Center; P7 million for the construction of San Andres Super Health Center; P5 million in medical equipment for Bato Rural Health Unit; P3.5 million in medical equipment for Caramoran RHU; P20 million in medical equipment for Bato Maternity and Children’s Hospital; P92 million for the expansion and rehabilitation of Eastern Bicol Medical Center plus another P40 million for medical equipment.
With respect to the DPWH and DepEd, the governor has yet to submit the listing of infrastructure projects intended to be implemented by the PLGU.
Last Feb. 11, Azanza was among the governors who attended the signing of a MOA between DepEd and LGUs in Malacanang to fast-track the construction of classrooms nationwide,
For the first tranche, the government has allocated P9.6 billion, of which P4.1 billion will fund the construction of about 1,200 classrooms by provincial governments and more than P5 billion will fund the delivery of around 2,800 pre-fabricated classrooms by DepEd.
Under the partnership, the DepEd will set technical standards, provide classroom designs, and supply the funding, while LGUs will take the lead in procurement and construction.
Aside from the provincial government, there is no available information as to whether any of the 11 municipal LGUs have qualified to implement DepEd infra projects although there are reports that San Andres, Caramoran and Pandan have secured the agency’s accreditation.
Likewise, DepEd has yet to determine or identify specific school building projects that could be implemented by the LGUs.
Last Friday, Feb. 13, the governor and the mayors met with DepEd officials to ensure compliance with the requirements to be submitted before the end of the month, including the authority to enter into the MOA from their respective Sanggunians.
On the other hand, the provincial board has invited DPWH Catanduanes District Engineering Office OIC-District Engineer Vivian Biaco to a committee hearing this week on Azanza’s request for authority to enter into a similar arrangement for the agency’s infra projects for the province.
The request submitted by the governor to the board did not include a list of specific projects although a DPWH source claimed that Azanza had shown a list of road projects allegedly ‘promised’ by a DPWH undersecretary for implementation by the province.