• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Negros Occidental provincial government has secured P171 million in funding from the national government for priority infrastructure projects.
These include the P21-million solar power installation at the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital (TLJPH) in Silay City and P150 million for road projects in various local government units.
Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II said on Friday, Aug. 28 that the funds, sourced from the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF), were recently approved and downloaded to the provincial government’s account.
These had been applied for by the provincial government three months ago, he added.
Diaz said the provincial government is preparing the purchase request for the project, which will be signed by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson upon his return, allowing the procurement process to begin.
He expressed optimism that the solar power project can be completed within the year.
The installation is expected to help reduce the hospital’s electricity expenses, allowing the provincial government to maximize resources for other operational and healthcare needs.
The final design and capacity of the solar power system will depend on the number of panels that can be accommodated by the hospital’s roofing structure, Diaz said.
The TLJPH project will further expand the provincial government’s shift toward renewable and energy-efficient facilities.
The provincial government has already installed solar power systems in several of its facilities, including the Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol, the Provincial Food Terminal and the Negros Residences.
Meanwhile, the provincial government is also moving forward with the implementation of P150 million worth of road projects in different local government units in Negros Occidental.
Diaz said the road projects were among the priority infrastructure programs proposed by the provincial government under the administration of Lacson.
The provincial government is also continuing work on the Negros Cyber Centre, which is now nearing completion although the replacement of portions of its roofing is still being awaited due to structural concerns. | GPB
