San Fernando, Pampanga
17 March 2016

“Mula kalsada, tulay, paliparan, flood control projects, hanggang serbisyong panlipunan — malawakan ang ating stratehiya upang bigyang-lakas at ilapit sa kaunlaran ang mga Cabalen,” said President Benigno S. Aquino III in a meeting with the local leaders and residents of Pampanga province.

President Aquino shared some of government’s notable contributions for the development of Pampanga. In infrastructure, the Clark International Airport New Passenger Terminal Building Project is now up for construction. Once completed, it can accommodate six million passengers per year. Likewise, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has installed a temporary passenger terminal building that will serve as a pre-departure area for domestic flights.

From 2011-2016, total cost of infrastructure in the province reached PhP 16.94 billion. Among the major road projects were the Gapan-San Fernando-Olongapo Road Project Phase 2, Lazatin Flyover, San Fernando 1st Green Road and Aquino Bypass Road.

In agriculture, PhP 1.5 billion has been allotted for Pampanga’s farm-to-market roads and irrigation. 5,600 farmers have benefitted from the 144 completed roads and 2,500 benefitted from the 69 completed irrigation projects.

President Aquino also shared that in the health sector, a total of PhP 572.91 million was provided for the repair and building of health facilities in the province, including the Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital. Upon the approval of Republic Act 10355 in 2013, bed capacity of the hospital increased from 250 to 500 hospital beds. New wards were also built, like the Obstetrics-Gynecology and Pediatric Ward.

Moreover, the administration created the Shared Service Facility (SSF) in support of the local entrepreneurs. In Pampanga alone, there are 36 SSF beneficiaries such as the Mapina Farmers Irrigators Association. In 2013, the group was able to raise its production of fresh carabao milk and pastillas, as well as its monthly income from PhP 20,000 to PhP 96,000.

“Malinaw po: Narating natin ang puntong ito dahil sa pagtutulungan at pag-aangat sa kapwa. Nagpapasalamat po ako sa pakikihakbang ng mga Cabalen sa Daang Matuwid,” President Aquino said.

*  *  *