Official says US-funded Samar Road project ‘substantially done’

TACLOBAN CITY, March 15 (PNA) -– The Millennium Challenge Account–Philippines (MCA-P) is optimistic that the USD214 million road upgrading in Samar provinces will be substantially completed upon expiration in May 2016, amid delays encountered by the project.

Millennium Challenge Account–Philippines (MCA-P) Managing Director Maria Victora E. Añonuevo said unfavorable weather last year and environmental laws caused the delay in the implementation of of Secondary National Roads Development Project (SNRDP), especially for the contract package (CP) 2.

CP 2, the largest in terms of value, involves the reconstruction of 63.68-kilometer road stretch from Hinabangan, Samar to Sulat, Eastern Samar.

The PHP2.5 billion road segment, awarded to Chinese firm Qingjian Group Co. Ltd. also includes rehabilitation of 20 bridges and reconstruction of five others.

Originally, it was up for completion by end of this month, but the revised target, pushed the date to end of May 2016.

“CP2 will be 98 percent complete by May. It remains a bit of challenge on finishing a 100 percent because of certain scope of work that we did not anticipate such as landslides,” Añonuevo told PNA.

“These are very difficult areas and we are very careful not to touch the Samar Island Natural Park,” she added.

The Department of Public Works and Highways will assume the responsibility of completing the unfinished works when the project expires on May 25, 2016, as stipulated in the contract between the US and Philippines government.

Also under contract with Qingjian Group Co. Ltd. is CP 3. This PHP2.45 billion segment covers 64.58 kilometers and the replacement of six bridges from the town boundary of San Julian and Sulat to Balangkayan and Llorente town boundary in Eastern Samar.

The segment will be fully completed within this month, according to Añonuevo.

Up for completion by May is CP4. The project covers rehabilitation of 77.5 kilometers of road in the towns of Llorente, Hernani, General McArthur, Quinapondan, Salcedo, Mercedes, and Guiuan. The PHP2.2 billion project, awarded to consortium of Hanjin and Yakal Construction.

Only one segment – CP1 has been completed. It covers a 16.3-kilometer road in Paranas towns as well as the replacement of a bridge. The PHP802-million infrastructure project handled by Filipino consortium DM Consunji Inc. and CM Pancho Construction Inc. was completed in June 2014.

About 92 percent of the USD214 million outlay have been committed, but only 85 percent have been disbursed as MCA-P and contractors generated some savings from employing “methodologies to build the road better and cheaper.”

Overall, the project is 87 percent done as of end of Febuary 2016, according to the top MCA-P official.

The SNRDP linking the impoverished provinces of Samar and Eastern Samar, has started October 2012. Other components include anti-human trafficking and replacement of trees removed during the road upgrading activities.

The Philippines compact project was signed on Sept. 23, 2010 by President Benigno S. Aquino III and then US Secretary of State and Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Chair Hillary Clinton.

MCA-P is a Philippine entity responsible for managing the implementation of the US4 million grant from the US government’s MCC. Other components of the compact are tax administration reform and community development projects. (PNA)
FFC/SARWELL Q. MENIANO