Public works projects cornered bulk of foreign aid in northern Mindanao

Projects by the Department of Public Works and Highways cornered the bulk of foreign financial aid given to the Caraga Region, which is located in the Northeastern Mindanao.

A report released by the National Economic and Development Authority-Caraga showed that in 2007, Caraga, which comprises of the provinces Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, and Surigao del Sur, was given official development assistance totaling about P14.63 billion.

Of the total amount, 98 percent were loans and 2 percent were in the form of grants.

DPWH projects cornered about P10.3 billion or 70.38 percent; followed by the National Irrigation Administration, P1.8 billion or 12.31 percent; and Department of Agrarian Reform, P965.68 or 6.6 percent.

Meanwhile, of the total amount, the province of Agusan del Sur was the top recipient of ODA, getting P3.352 billion or 49.17 percent; Surigao del Sur, P1.523 billion, or 22.34 percent; ; Agusan del Norte, P1.051 billion or 15.41 percent; and Surigao del Norte, P891.65 million or 13.08 percent.

Specifically, transportation, water resources, agriculture and agrarian reform were the sectors that got the biggest shares in the ODA portfolio.

Top sources of funding, meanwhile, were the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, Asian Development Bank, and World Bank. (CHERYL M. ARCIBAL, GMANews.TV)

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