Balita.org - Minsterley,England,UK, Oct. 3, 2008. At present, the Bio-Green company is leasing a portion of Tamlang Valley for cassava and jatropha plantations. According to Teves, fund available with the DOE is around P9 to 12 million, which shall be used for infrastructure development.
DUMAGUETE CITY, Oct. 3 — Economic development is expected to get a boost in the lush Tamlang Valley in southern Negros Oriental once the road network leading to the area is rehabilitated and made an all-weather road. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, during her visit to Bacolod City recently, promised the three House Representatives of Negros Oriental that she will allocate a budget for the road network in Tamlang Valley through the Department of Energy, according to 3rd district Rep. Henry Teves.
Teves said the President has learned about the recent burning of three tractors of a foreign firm engaged in the production of alternative bio-fuels in Tamlang Valley. He said she believes that a good road network would allow people to start appreciating the development being brought into their area and they will be more encouraged to plant cassava and jatropha.
At present, the Bio-Green company is leasing a portion of Tamlang Valley for cassava and jatropha plantations.
According to Teves, fund available with the DOE is around P9 to 12 million, which shall be used for infrastructure development. The road project will cost some P2.5 to P3 million per kilometer of road, to include construction of a drainage system. The road network of Tamlang Valley has an estimated total of 13 kilometers. Rep. Teves said he is planning to request Gen. Alexander Yano, chief of the staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to deploy an Army engineering battalion in the province to undertake construction of the road to Tamlang Valley.
Meanwhile, President Arroyo has also instructed the Department of Energy to give Tamlang Valley some 5.2 kilometers of power lines for the electrification program in the area, according to Teves. Rep. George Arnaiz of the 2nd district was also instructed by the President to get the funding from DOE for the electrical lines.
Tamlang Valley straddles the boundary of the municipalities of Siaton, Sta. Catalina, Valencia and Pamplona. It used to be a no-man’s land in the late '80s and early '90s during the height of the insurgency in Negros Oriental. (PNA)
