DPWH lines up nine major roadwork projects for Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - With nine big-ticket roadwork projects, including the construction of the third bridge in Cebu, making their way to the 2014 master plan, the public works department has come up with something Cebuano motorists and pedestrians might just well embrace.

Speaking on the secretary’s behalf at the opening of a construction show here in Cebu last week, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Raul Asis revealed they are now implementing the high standard highway network master plans in Cebu and in the Tagum-Davao-GenSan corridor as part of their thrust to upgrade the quality and safety of national roads and bridges in the country by 2016.

Asis, who read the message of Secretary Rogelio Singson, said the extension of Cebu coastal road up to Liloan, construction of Cebu Hillside road and their connector roads, widening of Cebu North Road and construction of Cebu North parallel road are included in the Cebu master plan for 2014.

In addition, DPWH will also embark on the following projects next year: widening of Cebu South road from Naga to Carcar City, construction of Cebu South parallel road, improvement of the Mactan Circumferential Road with remaining works for 2014 and beyond amounting to P3.3 billion as well as the widening of the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge.

The budget for infrastructure increased by 44 percent this year to P144.3 billion from P99.5 billion in 2012. For 2014, the department will propose an increment of P189 billion and will focus on road widening, upgrading of roads from gravel to concrete, rehabilitation, maintenance and safety of national roads, Asis said.

Overall, the DPWH budget for Visayas and Mindanao, excluding the inter-regional and nationwide projects, accounted for 41 percent of the total department budget in 2011, 47 percent in 2012 and 44 percent this year.

Apart from upgrading the national roads, Asis said another strategic agenda undertaken by the government is DPWH’s convergence with the Department of Tourism (DOT) in a program that hopes to enhance both local and national roads leading to priority tourism destinations.

He said the department is going to invest next year over P1.1 billion in tourism roads for Western Visayas and P1.4 billion for Central Visayas. These figures, he added, do not include investments for airports and seaports.

Citing the results of the World Economic Forum survey on the quality of roads, the Philippines has reportedly posted a continuing trend of development within the last three years. Its global ranking advanced from 114 in 2010-2011 to 87 in 2012-2013. Similarly, the quality of road index recovered from 2.8 to 3.4, which is at par with the neighboring country Indonesia.

Asis said that since July 2010 up to March 2013, DPWH has realized P16.35 billion in savings, owing to the Aquino government’s strong drive to fight corruption within government agencies, although he admitted there are still areas where they could further trim down corruption in public works projects.

“To improve our procurement process, we are now testing the use of electronic bidding for our construction projects to further diminish opportunities for collision and have a transparent and competitive bidding,” Asis said.

In an effort to ensure right quality, Asis said they have checks and balances in place. For instance, he said they have employed and outsourced private engineering firms to inspect their projects and have engaged in the services of non-government organizations to help them monitor project implementation.

They have also required their contractors to upgrade their expertise and equipment. At the same time, they are professionalizing the organization by promoting and assigning personnel strictly on the basis of merit and performance.

These reforms, Asis said, have resulted in better quality and safer roads, savings to the government, improvement in global competitiveness and less corruption as reflected in the latest SWS surveys on corruption perception where DPWH’s percentage index improved from -65 in 2009 to -21 in 2012. (FREEMAN)