US gov’t turns over USD214-M road upgrading project in Samar

TACLOBAN CITY, May 19 (PNA) -– The US-funded USD 214 million road upgrading project that links impoverished towns in Samar provinces is now complete after 44 “challenging months” of construction.

On Thursday, US government officials, headed by Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg, led the turnover of the project to the Department of Public Works and Highways, Road Board, 

Department of Social Welfare and Development, and people’s organization for the maintenance of the roads and bridges.

“US-Philippines partnership brings opportunity, connection and livelihood to Samar. The MCC (Millennium Challenge Corporation) completes 222 kilometers of road. Great news!,” Goldberg said in his twitter post.

Millennium Challenge Account – Philippines (MCA-P) Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Maria Victoria E. Añonuevo said in a mobile phone interview that all components of the road project were now 100 percent complete.

“We are happy to know that partner government agencies, local government units and people’s organization are committed to help maintain the road project,” Añonuevo said in a mobile phone interview.

Key officials from the DPWH, DSWD, local government units and people’s organization witnessed the turnover ceremony at the Eastern Samar provincial capitol gymnasium in Borongan City, Eastern Samar’s capital.

“The community-managed road maintenance program is an opportunity for our people to demonstrate their sense of responsibility and participation in nation building,” said DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson in a statement.

“With the concerted efforts of government and the people in the locality, there is no doubt that we can preserve this legacy road project to enjoy the fruits of our cooperation for years to come,” he added.

The DSWD has tapped beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program in maintenance works through funding from the Road Board.

The USD214-million grant from the US government covers road widening, rehabilitation, drainage and other safety measures, bridge construction and engineering interventions on road slips and landslides. The project, which has four contract packages, was awarded to seven contractors.

Of the 222 kilometers, 112 are asphalt and 110 are concrete. The road network has 62 bridges, 60 of which were constructed by the Secondary National Road Development Project and two by the DPWH.

The Samar rehabilitation project, which started in 2012, is a major component of the USD434-million grant from US government to address poverty.

The road traverses the town of Paranas in Samar, Taft, Sulat, San Julian, Borongan, Maydolong, Llorente, Hernani, Gen. Macarthur, Quinapondan, Salcedo, Mercedes and Guiuan in Eastern Samar.

During its construction phase, the project overcame challenges on road right of way acquisition, protected area restrictions, political interference, logistical hurdles, and impacts of super typhoon Yolanda that battered the province in 2013.

With the new road, the MCC expects that farmers will be able to transport their produce in less time to the urban markets, people from the rural areas will have more opportunity for employment and education in the urban center, and people living in rural areas will have faster and better access to health care, especially in cases of emergency. (PNA)
RMA/SARWELL Q. MENIANO