Northwest Leyte 2015 allotment nearly complete

ORMOC CITY, Leyte, April 26 (PNA) -- Projects implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways-4th Leyte Engineering District (DPWH-4th LED) for 2015 are 98.47 percent complete, slightly ahead by its 98.44 percent target.

The remaining project for that year is the construction of a 60-meter footbridge in Naungan village here worth PHP12.5 million that will link Zone 7 and Quinto Limbo in said village.

District Engineer Lino Francisco Gonzales said they have finished with the tower at Abutment A. But the barge doing pile-driving at Abutment B is operating at a limited time as the pilot is having difficulty maneuvering during high tide. The contractor asked for a 30-day extension, pushing the target date of completion to May 31.

As for 2016 projects, these as 36.35 percent completed as of March 31. Some PHP700 million are to be implemented by the DPWH regional office and the same amount by 4th LED. Of the 63 projects this year, 29 have been completed, 30 are ongoing while four have yet to begin as of April 20.

These projects are construction of PHP10 million public market in neighboring Kananga town which the municipal government wants to implement; opening of Gaas-Quezon Jr. road in Ormoc worth PHP140 million which has been bid out but cannot commence due to the election ban. Being a mere road-opening, only two kilometers of the nine-kilometer stretch will be concreted.

Other projects are Widening of Anilao Bridge in Ormoc worth PHP60 million which scheduled for bidding on May 14, and a PHP10 million flood control dike along Pagsangaan River to protect a relocation housing project in Lilo-an, here from floods.

Engr. Gonzales reiterates his projection that projects will reach PHP1.8 billion in northwest Leyte this year with the contribution of other government offices. These include PHP50 million worth of Local Infrastructure Projects that will be broken down to PHP2 million for each beneficiary village mostly in the form of road concreting.

The education department has programmed PHP144 million for school buildings in the area while the Agriculture Department will allocate PHP30 million for farm-to-market roads. Engr. Gonzales also announces the construction of a PHP3.2 million footbridge in Monterico, here in Ormoc. (PNA)

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