NAGA CITY -- Upbeat on the 7.3 percent economic growth the country reportedly had last year, ranking government officials who were in this city on Tuesday for the fourth leg of their economic briefing roadshow, said the Bicol Region would face a more positive economic outlook this year—propelled by soon to be carried out ‘priority’ projects by the national government.

        National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Director Gerelyn Balneg said the string of devastating typhoons that hit the region in 2006 had adversely affected the region’s economy but she projected that the region would recover this year.

        Balneg said that economic growth in the region would be propped by upcoming developments including the rehabilitation of Tiwi, and Bacon-Manito Geothermal Plants, improved tourism development and promotion programs, and full-implementation of the ‘top-ten’ priority infrastructure projects.

        She said funds were allocated already to the priority infrastructure projects as confirmed by Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr.

        Priority’ projects to be started this year comprise RoRo ports along the Eastern/Central Nautical Highways, Bicol River Basin and Watershed Management Project, Bicol International Airport, Bicol-Mainline South Railway Project, San Fernando-Oas Bypass Road, and Catanduanes Circumferential Road.

        Quirino Highway Rehabilitation Project, Bicol Health Service Delivery Enhancement Project, Regional Geohazard Survey and Assessment Project, and Comprehensive Disaster Prevention Project around Mayon Volcano are also among the priorities, said Balneg.

        DBM Secretary Rolando Andaya, who was among the resource speakers during the economic briefing, said he was especially upbeat on the economic prospects of Naga City, adding that more multi-million establishments including Shoemart had invested in the city.

        Andaya further said that vigorous investment should be a good indicator of robust local economy.

        Department of Agriculture Assistant Secretary Dennis Araullo, on the other hand, dispelled fears of rice shortage in the country and in the region, consequently.

        He said the shortage was the result of a decreased production of rice in the past years, adding that world rice production decreased while the demand for rice increased.

        Naga was the fourth stop of the economic briefing roadshow. Earlier this month, the briefing was conducted in the cities of Davao, Cebu, and Iloilo. Its next stop will be in Clark Special Economic Zone in Pampanga.

        Andaya, meanwhile, denied that the roadshow was meant to counteract NBN Deal Scandal Star Witness Rodolfo ‘Jun’ Lozada’s touring of universities and colleges all over the country.