Arenas Builts 1 billion worth of projects
By: Janice D. HIDalgo
STA. BARBARA, —More than P1 billion worth of infrastructure projects have been built in the third district of Pangasinan in just over two years since Rep. Rachel "Baby" Arenas took office.
This was learned from Engr. Marietta Mendoza district engineer of the Second Pangasinan engineering sub office base here , who said that the district projects implemented by the Department of Public Works Highways now amount to more or less P900 million pesos.
If projects implemented by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) are included, these will total more than P1 billion in cost, Mendoza said.
The latest project inaugurated by Arenas last weekend was the upgrading of a 600-meter portion of the Dagupan-Urdaneta Road in Barangay Maningding, Sta. barbara, funded at the cost of P12.3 million.
"If you remember, this stretch was usually flooded every rainy season. This was raised beyond the flood level," Arenas said.
The drainage component of the project costing P10 million is set to be completed in October.
Also being raised by almost one meter is an about 100-meter portion of the Calasiao-San Carlos Road just in front of the Calasiao town hall which looks like a swimming pool every rainy season.
Rep. Arenas said she allotted P10 million from her own Priority Development Assistance Fund to be used for the project, to finally end the flooding in that stretch.
She said owners of the "puto" stands located in that stretch were asked to sacrifice for two months, which they did.
"I asked them to make a little sacrifice because if we will not upgrade this now, they will continue to experience flood in the stretch which is affecting their business," Arenas said.
Municipal officials led by Mayor Roy Macanlalay thanked Rep. Arenas for these projects.
Arenas, however, said the officials should rather thank President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo because these are all her projects