DBM releases P2.1 B to DAR for construction of bridges

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) disbursed over P2.1 billion to the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to fund the construction of universal bridges.

The funds, sourced from the 2014 budget of the Department of Public Works Highways,  will cover bridging materials and services to be used in the Tulay ng Pangulo para sa Kaunlarang Pang-Agraryo (TPKP) project.

The TPKP universal bridges will connect agrarian reform communities and the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP)-covered areas and road networks to main markets nationwide under DAR’s Program Beneficiaries Development (PBD) support services delivery component.

“This release will jump-start the construction of these unibridges, so that we can link our farmers to commercial areas where they can sell their produce. The goal is to allow our farmers to become more active participants in the local economy, and ultimately, to expand the reach and development of the country’s agriculture industry,” said DBM Secretary Florencio  Abad.

The DAR will be the executing agency for the TPKP project while the DPWH will be building the pre-fabricated modular steel bridges as supplied by the Matiere SAS-Eiffel Consortium.

Of the 418 bridges to be constructed, DAR has already endorsed 287, of which 15 have been completed and one is undergoing construction.

The DAR and the DPWH also agreed to replace the damaged Desamparados and Tultugan bridges beside the Bohol circumferential road. However, this is subject to the assessment that the replacement bridges will help develop agrarian reform communities and CARP-covered areas within the region.