DPWH gets additional 2017 outlay for Southern Leyte

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Feb. 28 (PNA) – The actual budget for infrastructure development in Southern Leyte has increased to PHP1.8 billion from the proposed PHP1.7 billion this year. 

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Southern Leyte district engineering office Chief Engr. Ma. Margarita C. Junia confirmed that more projects has been added to the list under the 2017 General Appropriations Act. 

Among these are the PHP50 million to kick off the proposed PHP1.5 billion Maasin Coastal Bypass Road, additional PHP11 million for the ongoing construction of DPWH Southern Leyte building in Ibarra village, PHP5 million to finance the modification of off carriageway improvement along national road linking Sogod town and Maasin City, and PHP500,000 for the ongoing opening of San Ricardo-Liloan Circumferential Road. 

Junia lauded Southern Leyte Representative Roger Mercado for ensuring the inclusion of additional budget to the General Appropriations Act.

“We thanked the national government for believing that we can do more than what has been planned for this year. We are now working double time to ensure that all these projects will start as early as possible,” Junia said. 

Bidding of these additional projects as well as some major infrastructure projects will be done within the first quarter of this year. 

The 2017 approved budget is PHP500 million higher than the PHP1.3 billion allocation last year. 

The 2017 regular projects include bridges repair, flood control structures, road widening, road rehabilitation, tourism access roads, among others. 

Citing DPWH Southern Leyte’s performance in 2016, the department’s main office earlier approved the exemption of the district office to Department Order No. 156. 

The said directive limits the authority of a district engineering office to approve program of works and budget for the contract of projects with cost not exceeding PHP50 million. This is four times less than the PHP200 million limit for the regional office. 

These projects with approved special authority are PHP109.43 million slope protection along critical road sections in Sogod town, PHP100 million road opening and construction of bridges for San Ricardo-Liloan Circumferential Road, PHP179.95 million road widening and drainage system in various national road sections. 

Also included are PHP115 million Boundary Southern Leyte-Maasin City-Macrohon road upgrading and PHP235.79 million road widening and drainage system in various national road sections in the province. 

These projects are scheduled for bidding next month. 

DPWH Southern Leyte is tasked to maintain 298.93 kilometers of national roads and 153 bridges, built in 18 towns and Maasin City, the provincial capital. (PNA)
FPV/SQM/DPWH-PR/EGR