SATURDAY NEWS FORUM FEB 4, 2023

MEDIA BRIEFING. Saturday News Forum guest panelists (2nd to 5th from left) Dolores Hipolito, project manager III of the Unified Project Management Office Flood Control Management cluster of the Department of Public Works and Highways; National Economic and Development Authority Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon; Department of Transportation Assistant Secretary Leonel Cray de Velez; and Dr. Jose Rafael Marfori, Philippine General Hospital special assistant to the director, flanked by moderators Ariel Ayala (left) and Butch Hilario, at Dapo Restaurant and Bar in Quezon City on Saturday (Feb. 4, 2023). Hipolito said the government has allocated PHP20 billion for the first phase of the Integrated Flood Resilience and Adaptation Project in three major river basins in the country (Abra in the Ilocos Region, Ranao in Lanao del Sur and Tagum-Libuganon in Davao del Norte); Edillon said NEDA is currently vetting 206 major projects of the Marcos administration that are projected to start this year; and Marfori sees the PHP6-billion, 300-bed capacity PGH cancer center operating by 2025 should the awarding of the contract happen this year. (PNA photo by Robert Alfiler)