Batac lines up projects for 2014

By Dominic B. dela Cruz

Staff Reporter

Batac City—Mayor Jeffrey Jubal Nalupta announced that the farm-to-market road projects he began in 2013 will continue in the new year.

He stressed that the city government will continue to prioritize barangay projects as he said he does not want the city’s rural barangays to be left behind in terms of development and improvement.

Nalupta said he considers his farm-to-market road projects as one of his major accomplishments last year and as such he wants to continue it this year.

He also mentioned that he wants both urban and rural barangays to be developed in all aspects.

To achieve this, he said the best strategy is to hasten development in the rural barangays. To make sure that their primary roads are paved but he pointed out that he is not in favor or re-gravelling as this is just a waste of money.

Since 2007, Nalupta has already told barangays that the city’s vision is to improve farm-to-market roads of all rural barangays, which he hopes to complete when his term ends in 2016.

Meanwhile, Nalupta also saw the completion of the multi-million Nagbacalan Small Water Impounding Project as another major accomplishment for 2013.

He said that this will be one of his legacy projects as it is the biggest single project in his term as mayor. The project was worth more than P50 million.

The impounding project serves hundreds of hectares of farm land and the mayor is hopeful it would be fully functional once he leaves his office.

Nalupta is also looking to complete the second floor of the Batac Public Market this year. The finishing however is scheduled for next year.

As for future projects, Nalupta pegged as priority projects for this year are: the proposed Sumader Small Water Impounding Project which has a projection cost of P60 million; the ground breaking of the City Hall expansion year; the acquisition of more lots to be developed into institutional or government projects because as of this time, the city government has ran out of vacant lots they own and Nalupta wants to prepare whoever would take over from him once his prescribed three terms end.

Nalupta expounded that the city government still has no designated place yet for a low cost housing that should be about 5 to 10 hectares. A city-owned sports complex is also in the works as well as the possible transfer of the existing basketball court at the Imelda Cultural Center when Ilocos Norte Gov. Ma. Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos pushes through with her plan to rehabilitate City Hall’s southern portion.

Nalupta also took pride in the fact that Batac does not have any loan as all projects are being funded from their own coffers. He stressed that they are willing to wait to complete a project even it becomes a phase-by-phase basis.

Reacting to this, Batac Vice Mayor Ronald Allan M. Nalupta vowed that the Sangguniang Panlungsod will always support the mayor, especially for the betterment of the city.

The vice mayor hopes they would pass better ordinances and resolutions that would foster smoother relations between Batac officials and their constituents.