SOME 915 provincial road projects with an aggregate total of P39.192-billion and spanning 2,866.91 kilometers have been completed under the Conditional Matching Grant to Provinces (CMGP) since the project started in 2016, according to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año expressed confidence that with better provincial roads, goods and services from the far-flung areas will be able to reach the centers of economic activity. At the same time, government services will now easily reach their areas.

“Napakaimportante ng maayos na kalsada sa mga probinsiya lalo na ngayong panahon ng COVID-19 pandemic para mas mabilis na makararating ang mga serbisyo ng pamahalaan tulad ng bakuna at ayuda kahit sa mga malalayong lugar. Magiging mas madali na rin ang province-wide o kahit inter-province man na pangangalakal ng mga prutas, gulay, at iba pang produkto papunta sa mga palengke at mga syudad,” Año said.

CMGP is a national government program that aims to improve the state of core provincial roads by strengthening the capacity and performance of provincial governments in local road management, and provision of funds for provincial road projects, towards enhancing national and local road connectivity and accessibility to social services and economic opportunities by the end of 2030.

Año said that CMGP is like hitting two birds with one stone: the state of core provincial roads are improved while the capacities and performance of provincial governments in terms of local road management (LRM) and public financial management (PFM) are also bolstered.

Of the 916 completed CMGP projects, 91 are in Region III amounting to P3.217-billion; 85 in CALABARZON amounting to P1.888-billion; 76 in Region II amounting to P2.5-billion; 75 in MIMAROPA amounting to P3.357-billion; 74 in Region VIII amounting to P2.5-billion; and 74 in Region X amounting to P3.151-billion.

Another 65 CMGP projects were completed in Region VI amounting to P3.116-billion; 63 in Region XII amounting to P2.907-billion; 57 in Cordillera Administrative Region worth P2.532-billion; 54 in CARAGA worth P2.652-billion; and 51 IN Region 1 worth P1.92- billion.

In Region V, some 47 CMGP projects have also been completed amounting to P2.366-billion; 44 in Region XI amounting to P2.777-billion; 27 in Region VII amounting to P2.244- billion; 18 in Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao worth P522.172-million; and 14 in Region IX worth P1.283-billion.

“With better provincial road networks, these infrastructure development will lead to faster economic recovery amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and more peaceful communities in far- flung areas,” said Año.

Meanwhile, DILG Spokesperson and Undersecretary Jonathan E. Malaya said some P350-million CMGP funds are slated this year for 13 provinces for the rehabilitation, upgrading, and improvement of core provincial roads and bridges and the provision of road appurtenances.

Citing General Appropriations Act No. 11518, Malaya said the CMGP funds will be directly downloaded to the provinces of Ilocos Norte, La Union, Apayao, Benguet, Mountain Province, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Laguna, Western Samar, Davao Occidental, Dinagat Islands, and Agusan del Sur upon completion of their respective documentary requirements.

He urged the concerned provincial governors of these provinces to fast-track submission of their Detailed Engineering Designs (DEDs) compliant with the DPWH standards; Good Financial Housekeeping (GFH) component of the DILG-SGLG; and latest DBM-validated PFM Improvement Plan (PFMIP) to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) in order to receive their allotted CMGP funds.

The DILG spokesperson assured the provincial local government units (LGUs) that the Department will continue to provide them with the needed technical assistance in implementing the CMGP projects.