Salceda guns for governorship, leaving district with P18-B funds

By Manuel T. Ugalde

LEGAZPI CITY --- With indications that he will run again in the 2025 gubernatorial race, Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda seems set to leave the Albay 2nd District with a staggering P18 billion in infrastructure funds out of the P83 billion allocated to the 16 Bicol congressional districts for 2024 under the Marcos administration.

As this develops, insiders at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) are uncertain whether the Albay 2nd District Engineering Office will be able to implement its projects lined up for 2024 and even into 2025.

The Albay 2nd District, which is the Bicol regional center based in Legazpi City, includes the city of Legazpi and the towns of Daraga, Rapu-Rapu, Manito, and Camalig. Daraga is the site of the Bicol International Airport, operational for barely five years and a project initiated by Salceda.

The P18 billion infrastructure budget for the Albay 2nd District in 2024 is not only raising eyebrows among district engineers but is also the highest among the region’s 16 congressional districts, equating to 21 percent of the Bicol total P83 billion 2024 budget.

The development of the Bicol International Airport and the heavy infrastructure investment in the Albay 2nd District during Salceda’s nine-year tenure have significantly boosted the influx of local and foreign tourists, positioning Albay as a hub similar to California in the United States.

The DPWH regional office, managing a P24 billion budget, is struggling with its 2024 programmed projects and is inundated with additional projects requested by lawmakers, which are evading scrutiny from contractors fighting for genuine public bidding. Reports indicate that the districts with the next highest budgets are Sorsogon 1st District Engineering with P7 billion, followed by Camarines Sur 5th District Engineering with P5 billion.

The magnitude of the P18 billion budget for the Albay 2nd District is described as “Intensity 8,” according to a former district engineer.

Salceda, in his final term in Congress with strong indications of running for the 2025 gubernatorial post, is expected to face a challenge from Rep. Edcel Lagman, who is also in his final term. Lagman is the father of the incumbent governor, Grex Lagman, a former lawmaker and vice governor who was elevated to the governorship by operation of law after Gov. Noel Rosal was disqualified by the Comelec eight months after the 2022 election.

DPWH Regional Director Virgilio Eduarte confirmed the P24 billion allocation for the regional office and P18 billion for the Albay 2nd District. He expects more funds to flow into Bicol with Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co as chairman of the Congress Appropriations Committee.

According to Eduarte, he believes his office will be able to implement the budget for regional infrastructure projects, explaining that the Marcos administration has allocated a total of P288 billion under the General Appropriations Act over the three-year period since the 2022 election. For 2023, the BBM government allocated P74 billion to Bicol.