P34 billion in infra projects completed, says DPWH

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reported yesterday the completion of some P34 billion worth of road, bridge, flood control and building projects all over the country under President Arroyo’s Super Regions and Nautical Highway program, confirming government’s emphasis on infrastructure development.

DPWH Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. said that as of June 30, the government has already completed some P23.34 billion worth of national roads and bridges, a total of 1,290 flood control structures worth P5.306 billion and other infrastructure projects amounting to over P4 billion.

In his mid-year accomplishment report, Ebdane said the DPWH has also worked with other government agencies such as the Departments of Agriculture, Agrarian Reform and Education for the construction of the farm to market roads worth over P2 billion.

He stressed that the department also accomplished 1,707 lineal meters of bridges costing P353.667 million, and 142 classrooms worth P185 million for the Agrarian Reform office.

As for the education sector, the DPWH completed 2,886 classrooms worth P1.160 billion with another 1,600 classrooms ongoing to benefit students and teachers, especially those situated in far-flung barangays.

In terms of enhancing the President’s Super Regions, the department has started embarking on the second phase of the Halsema Highway, completing the La Trinidad-Mt. Data Section, Bontoc-Banaue Section and the Mt. Data-Bontoc Section as of June, and the Tabuk-Tuguegarao Road covering the areas of Bontoc, Tinglayan, Lubuagan, and Tabuk under the North Luzon Agri Business Quadrangle.

Under the Luzon Urban Beltway (LUB), two sections are ongoing while six sections are under the pre-construction stage of the Tarlac-Nueva Ecija-Dingalan Road upon the initial release of P136 million for civil works and P18.4 million for detailed engineering. The project costs a total of P807 million.

The P21 billion Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway is making headway posting an accomplishment rating of 69.94 percent and 81.45 percent for package 1 and 2 of the project. The Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) project, which has been placed on top priority under Mrs. Arroyo’s orders is currently ongoing and now 36.31 percent complete.

The Nautical Highways (Mindoro East Coast Road) costing P915 million is now in the pre-construction stage, along with the circumferential road (C-5)-NLEX-SLEX link which costs P7.738 billion. The South Luzon Expressway Extension Project, the Manila Cavite Toll Expressway Project, Marikina-Infanta-Real Port Road are also in the early stages of implementation.

For projects in the Central Philippines, the department is also placing stock on projects such as El Nido-Bataraza Road in Palawan, Iloilo-Sta. Barbara Road, Metro Iloilo Radial Road, Pandan-Libertad-Antique/Aklan Boundary Road in Panay Island, and the improvement of RoRo Access Road, Bais-Kabankalan Road, San Carlos-Dumaguete Road, Bacolod-Kabankalan, Bacolod-Murcia-DS Benedicto-San Carlos City.

In the Bicol Region, the Naga-Toledo Road worth P805 billion was completed last February.

In the Mindanao Super Region, projects such as Dapitan City-Dakak Road, Zamboanga West Coast Road, Cotabato-Upi-Lebak-Maguindanao Road, Surigao-Davao Coastal Road and Dinagat Island Road Network are also proceeding on schedule.

As for the road component of the Nautical Highway System of the Arroyo administration, a total of 1,262.7 kms. of the Western Nautical Highway, 528.6 kms. of the Central Nautical Highway and 305.8 kms. of the Eastern Nautical Highway have already been completed by the DPWH.