Flood control projects up 95 percent last year — DPWH

Public Works Secretary Florante Soriquez yesterday announced a 95-percent increase in the number of flood control projects in the last year, saying "this accomplishment in the past year as been admirable and it is a good sign for development."

Over the past year, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) completed 2,198 flood control projects with a total cost of P5.115 billion.

According to Soriquez, the number of flood control projects increased by 95 percent from 1,126 completed in 2003.

These projects have helped minimize the effects of flooding in Metro Manila in the wake of typhoons like "Unding," "Winnie" and "Yoyong."

Despite the fact that the DPWH is working on a reduced budget, Soriquez is optimistic that the progress made last year will continue.

"We are confident that next year will be even more productive," he said. Agency insiders say that a large part of the department’s success may be attributed to Soriquez, who took over the agency’s helm in 2001.

Soriquez instituted a policy of adopting a corporate approach to and use of information technology (IT) in the department’s day-to-day operations. He also instituted major changes in and out of the DPWH.

One of the most visible aspects of these reforms is the use of the agency’s website — www.dpwh.gov.ph — and the implementation of a computerized Civil Works Contractor Registry (CWCR) in the bidding process for contractors.

Besides paving the way for increased participation by qualified bidders and fostering fair competition, these policies have "opened the door for contractors nationwide to compete in biddings while preventing collusion between DPWH officials and contractors," he said.

"The increased competition has brought down bid prices, which means that more projects can be implemented within the available budget," Soriquez added.

Soriquez has established a nationwide communication network integrating voice and data transmission between personnel at the DPWH Central Office and its 16 regional offices to improve the efficiency of the agency’s operations.

"By making more processes available for the public, we are, in essence, shrinking the grafter’s world," he said.

In another development, the DPWH reported that it built a total of 4,181 new classrooms in the last curriculum year.

Soriquez said that 210,000 students nationwide will benefit from the new classrooms.

"This is a service that the DPWH is more than happy to accomplish," he said. "Education is an indispensable component in improving the quality of life of our people. With more classrooms for our schoolchildren - particularly in the school-less barangays of the country, the literacy rate will improve."

The completed classrooms, costing P1.137 billion, helped reduce the shortage in school facilities. The project is being implemented by the DPWH under the Department of Education’s (DepEd) school building program.

The DPWH will continue building classrooms this year, Soriquez said, adding that DPWH intends to provide more school facilities in time for schoolyear 2005-2006.