Mayor del Rosario requested Sec. Ochoa for infrastructure funding, for the renovation of the municipal building worth P 100 million ; widening of Governor Linao national road and asphalt overlay with estimated cost of P63.9 million and construction of sidewalk with curbs and gutters complete with asphalt overlay along Poblacion road worth P 86.2 million
Secretary Ochoa told DPWH Secretary Rogelio L. Singson that although the proposed projects are not among the APEC projects allocated within the budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for fiscal year 2014, he noted that the concerned local government has no financial capacity to implement the said worthy projects for such a significant event to be attended by world leaders in the Asia Pacific regions .
Earlier, Mayor Del Rosario presented to Sec. Ochoa the existing condition of the municipal building that is no longer suitable to the workforce and for the transacting public and therefore requires necessary renovation. The Gov. Linao national road from the provincial capital of Balanga City leading to the APEC site likewise needs to be widened to accommodate bike lanes.
However, the memorandum from the Executive Secretary cited the scrutiny of the DPWH Budget for FY 2014 . Republic Act 10633(General Appropriations Act) revealed that the proposed projects may be qualified for funding among the program funds administered by DPWH.
Mayor Del Rosario has instructed Bagac Municipal Administrator Nicanor Ancheta to coordinate with the technical working groups in the preparation of the plan for the construction of a two-storey municipal building worth P 100 million, rehabilitation and beautification of historical landmarks including zero kilometer Death March marker, friendship tower , Japanese Memorial Monument and World War ll sites estimated to cost P 50 million.
Bagac town, a third class municipality, is expected to draw local and foreign tourists with the forthcoming summit of world leaders sometime in April 2015 in the well-secured compound, about 400 hectares site where a number of centuries old Spanish residences and public structures are restored.
Ancheta said the selection of Bagac as convention location of world leaders is the best exposure of Bagac town like what business magnate Jerry Acuzar ,owner of the Las Casas resort, told town officials “ I am going to put Bagac town in the world map.”
He cited the massive construction inside the resort of an old church, a European-style river, old-architectural residences for the guests and building of a port may cost another hundred millions of pesos. About 1,000 skilled workers and laborers are rushing the construction in the Las Casas de Acuzar to meet the deadline for the coming APEC gathering next year .
The major development in the coastal town of Bagac like souvenir shops and agricultural local products including fruits and nuts is a big boost to the local tourism industry, Ancheta added.
The holding of APEC summit at the Las Casas was first announced by Bataan Governor Albert Raymond S. Garcia before media men and he expects major investments to come in. Gov. Garcia said the APEC summit would generate good international economic growth, exposure and publicity of the historic peninsula as an emerging industrial and commercial center in the country.
