LEGAZPI CITY, Albay – House Speaker Martin Romualdez led the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a P400-million multi-purpose building in Barangay Dela Paz, Daraga town, Albay province on Friday, May 3.
HOUSE Speaker Martin Romualdez, House Committee on Appropriations chairman Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, and House Committee on Ways and Means chairman and Albay Rep. Joey Salceda led the groundbreaking ceremony for a multi-purpose building in Daraga, Albay on May 3. (Nino N. Luces)
House Appropriations panel chairman Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Jil Bongalon, Engr. Warren Azotea of the Department of Public Works and Highways-Albay 2nd Engineering District Office, mayors of Albay, and other public officials attended the event.
Bongalon said that the project is a one-story multi-purpose training and instructional facility funded by the government and will serve as venue for meetings, conferences, education, and sports activities for residents of Daraga.
"We're very happy na nabigyan ng ganitong project ang bayan ng Daraga na siguradong mapapakinabangan ng mga kababayan natin once na ito ay matapos na," Bongalon said.
The project has a P75-million budget for Phase 1, P175 million for Phase 2, and P150 million for the completion phase from fiscal year 2025.
The P75 million for Phase 1 was funded through the General Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2023 while the P175 million was funded through the GAA for fiscal year 2024.
The project is expected to be completed by 2025, according to Bongalon.
"The project was funded by the Congress through the leadership of Speaker Martin Romualdez and House Committee on Appropriations chairman Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, which our objective is to uplift the lives of every Filipino," Bongalon added.
The project in Daraga is the fourth in Albay after a series of groundbreaking ceremonies were held in other municipalities and cities in the province.
"This is the fourth kasi meron na tayong na-ground break sa ibang bayan tulad ng Camalig, Ligao City, at iba pa. Ito lang ang napuntahan ni Speaker Martin Romualdez and lahat naman ng munisipyo sa Albay ay magkakaroon nito," Bongalon added.
Romualdez also visited the ongoing construction of a 10-storey Legacy Building inside the Bicol Regional Hospital and Medical Center (BRHMC) in Daraga on Friday.
The Legacy Building is expected to be completed by 2025, according to Bongalon. "Once it is completed, madadagdagan ‘yung bed capacity ng BRHMC from 800 ngayon, magiging 1,500 na siya."
Co said that the Legacy Building will be a Level 3 hospital with a heart, lung, and cancer center and other facilities catering to special medical needs.
"This was made possible dahil sa tulong ni Presidente Bongbong Marcos at Speaker Martin Romualdez. Iba ang malasakit nila sa Bicolano. After construction hindi na kailangang bumiyahe ng mga Bicolano pa-Maynila just to get medical treatments from specialist," Co said.