Solon explains why 2 congressional districts have fewer projects

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

LINGAYEN – A congressman explained the reason why two congressional districts have less financial allocation from the national projects compared to the First Congressional District in Pangasinan that had one billion two hundred million pesos last year.

SOLONS. Pangasinan Second District Congressman Leopoldo Bataoil and former five-time
 House Speaker Jose de Venecia (3rd and 4th from left) pose for posterity with zumba habitués
 of Representative Bataoil at the tourist drawing  baywalk park at the Capitol Ground in Lingayen, Pangasinan. De Venecia’s son is Pangasinan Fourth District Representative Christopher “Toff” de Venecia.

Pangasinan Second District Representative Leopoldo Bataoil said the six hundred million pesos given this year to his District and the same amount to the Fourth District of Representative Christopher De Venecia  were because most of the infrastructure projects in the two districts have almost been completed unlike to that of the First District in Western Pangasinan.

“Kasi ang Second District tingnan mo ang  (inaudible) ating national highway almost lahat kumpleto na. Sila (First District) ang mga daan nila sirang-sira ang kalsada”.

Almost all of the allocation for the  Second and Fourth Districts, he said, are appropriated for maintenance work.
Representative Jesus Celeste told  recently Northern Watch about the allocation given to his district last year.

The  474,712 populated (2015 Census) Second Congressional District of Bataoil is composed of the towns of  Aguilar, Basista, Binmaley,Bugallon, Labrador, Lingayen, Mangatarem, and Urbiztondo while the 442,795 populated (2015 Census) Fourth Congressional District of De Venecia is composed of the City of Dagupan and the towns of Mangaldan, Manaoag, San Fabian, and San Jacinto .

The  423,899 populated (2015 Census) First Congressional District under the watch of Representative Jesus Celeste covers Alaminos City and the towns of Agno, Anda, Bani, Bolinao, Burgos, Dasol, Infanta, Mabini, and Sual. 

Bataoil also cited the 21 beach shed owners in Binmaley, Pangasinan that would be covered by the high elevation concrete roadway Baywalk Project have already relocated through the assistance of the Department of Environment & Natural Resources.

He said they voluntarily ejected themselves to give way for the laudable promenade project that started from the driving range in the Capitol Ground here, Pangasinan and snakes up to Barangay San Isidro in Binmaley town.

The expansion of the baywalk in Binmaley cost the government P114 million that was funded from the budgets of the Departments of Public Works & Highway and Tourism.

 The bay walk from here to Binmaley was envisioned to stimulate the towns’ tourism, spur economic growth, and provide income and livelihood opportunities for local residents.