Leyte 4th district Rep. Richard Gomez. (File photo)
TACLOBAN CITY – In a bid to connect more rural communities to national highways, the fourth district of Leyte province has significantly increased its infrastructure allocation this year to over PHP5 billion from last year’s PHP2.68 billion.
Leyte 4th District Rep. Richard Gomez said on Friday the PHP5.77 billion total infrastructure budget for this year in the district is aimed to fund 106 projects, 10 of which had been completed.
Seventy projects are ongoing and 24 have yet to start, he said.
These projects include access roads, bridges, flood control structures, water systems, multi-purpose buildings, drainage systems, road widening, bridge expansion, and maintenance of roads and bridges.
“The budget for each congressman is just minimal. We must find ways to finance our needed projects in the district,” he said, adding that hard work and constant communication with key officials of different government agencies and the senators were factors why the budget has been granted to the district.
Gomez said Ormoc City and the six towns in the congressional district – Albuera, Kananga, Matag-ob, Palompon, Merida, and Isabel got allocations for infrastructure development.
The actor-turned-legislator released the report after some of his political opponents shared on social media that he failed to lobby for funds for the development of the district.
“We have to release this report to let the people know that we are working to help the people of Leyte’s 4th district,” Gomez said.
Five mayors in the district have been critical of the leadership of Gomez. In their recent statement, these local officials have called on the House member to bring funds for the districts.
Of the six towns and one city in the 4th congressional district, only the mayors of Ormoc City and Kananga town are allies of Gomez. Ormoc’s mayor is the solon’s wife, Lucy Torres-Gomez while Kananga town’s mayor is Manuel Vicente Torres, Lucy’s brother. (with reports from Lizbeth Ann Abella/PNA)
