A total of five resolutions on infrastructure development were passed and endorsed by the Regional Development Council (RDC) 2 and the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) 2 during their most recent joint meeting held on September 30, 2015 in Cauayan City, Isabela.

Among these are two resolutions endorsing the reclassification from local to national of two major roads in Isabela and Cagayan.

The Ilagan–Divilacan Road in Isabela is 82 kilometers long and has an estimated rehabilitation cost of P1,900 Million to be borne by the Provincial Government. Meanwhile, the Ayaga–Sta. Marcela–Flora–Lasam Road serves as a link between Region 2 and the Cordillera Region. Unlike the Apayao section, however, the Cagayan portion of this road is still a provincial road.

The conversion of these roads from local to national roads will facilitate concreting and upgrading works. It will also aid the delivery of basic social services, disaster relief, and infrastructure development particularly in the coastal towns of Isabela.

Another resolution that was endorsed by the two councils was the integration of the Dinapigue, Isabela–Casiguran, Aurora road to the Casiguran–Baler national road in Aurora Province. Presenting for the RDC 2-Infrastructure Development Committee (IDC), NEDA Assistant Regional Director Engr. Victor B. Ubaldo said that the integration of this road will improve inter-provincial and inter-regional access and mobility between the Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon Regions. It will also enhance productivity and hasten economic development in these areas.

Meanwhile, in Gattaran, Cagayan, about 717 farmers in six barangays are expected to benefit once the Nassiping Pump Irrigation Project commences and becomes operational after receiving the endorsement from the RDC 2 and the RPOC 2.

Deemed as economically viable, this project will irrigate around 1,028 hectares of farm land, thereby increasing the total annual rice production by a whopping 194% and farmers’ net crop income by 178%.

Specifically, the annual rice production of farmers in the covered barangays is predicted to rise up to 10,485 MT/ha from a much lower 3,565 MT/ha. At the same time, their net crop income per hectare per year is expected to reach as high as P99,339 from the present value of P35,738.

Finally, the two councils passed a resolution supporting a House Bill authored by the Congress Representatives of Nueva Vizcaya, Hon. Carlos M. Padilla, and Benguet, Hon. Ronald M. Cosalan.

House Bill 5612 provides for the construction and concreting of barangay roads and multi-purpose pavements in all barangays in support of the implementation and promotion of comprehensive rural development. It aims to accelerate socioeconomic development in the countryside by hastening travel and communication as well as the delivery of basic social services.#