BOTOLAN, Zambales — The local government here has unveiled infrastructure projects worth a total of P200 million to sustain the economic growth of this first-class municipality.

Mayor Jun Omar Ebdane announced that the initiatives aim to build on the momentum achieved through last year’s successful infrastructure undertakings. Under a Land Bank funding facility, the Botolan LGU will pursue four major construction projects this year.

These are a municipal administrative building (P24.9 million), motor pool (P15 million), commercial building (P90 million) and commercial spaces at the New Taugtog Resettlement Area (P70 million).

“These projects will boost economic growth, generate new revenues, provide additional office spaces for government services, and create new jobs,” Ebdane said in his recent State of the Municipality Address (SOMA).

In addition to the infrastructure developments, the LGU is acquiring four lots totaling 10.7 hectares at a cost of P26.97 million to expand local government operations and programs.

These areas will host the planned municipal motor pool, fire and police stations, a Municipal Agri-Demo Center for agricultural initiatives (including dairy industry programs), a materials recovery facility for improved waste management, and a future barangay government complex in Eastern Nacolcol.

The Botolan LGU is also processing land titles for key government facilities, including the Polytechnic College of Botolan (PCB), which currently spans various privately titled lots.

In his SOMA, Ebdane highlighted the administration’s accomplishments for the previous year. The LGU completed P41.8 million worth of infrastructure projects under a development fund and P12 million worth of projects for disaster preparedness and mitigation.

Other community service initiatives included scholarship programs, with P8.5 million in grants for college students and P4.12 million for high school students.

The LGU also made strides in education technology by procuring IT equipment to establish Zambales’ first smart classroom and, with assistance from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), providing internet connectivity to schools in remote Ayta villages through a Starlink satellite interface.