DPWH expects timely completion of Korean-funded Samar road

TACLOBAN CITY, July 26  -- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is optimistic that the nearly PHP1-billion Samar Pacific Coastal Road will be completed on time, drawing lessons from delayed infrastructure projects in Northern Samar.

DPWH Eastern Visayas Regional Director Edgar Tabacon said on Thursday that Korea-based contractor, Ilsung Construction Co. Ltd., has mapped out strategies to deal with all factors that may cause delay to the road works.

Since the project started May 26 until June 25 this year, the contractor already reported 1.22 percent accomplishment, just a little behind the 1.59 percent target for the first 30 days of project implementation. The activities include mobilization of equipment, clearing, and excavation.

“This is a big contractor and they have the capability to implement this kind of project. I believe they have learned lessons from previous projects, including the road construction of the road that links Samar and Eastern Samar provinces implemented by the US government,” Tabacon told the Philippine News Agency in a phone interview.

The official was referring to the 222-km Samar Road Rehabilitation Project under the US government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation funding. The road, which was completed 2015, was delayed due to frequent rains in Samar Island.

Among six provinces, Northern Samar posted the lowest accomplishment in building DPWH projects in 2018.

For Northern Samar second legislative district, where the Korean-funded road is located, the field office reported a 2.89 percent accomplishment - way below than the 50 percent target for the first semester.

Last May, DPWH Secretary Mark Villar and South Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Han Dong-man led the groundbreaking ceremony of the project.

The PHP997.50-million road project, funded through a loan from the South Korean government, will open an 11.6-km. two-lane road and build three bridges. The Korean contractor aims to complete the project by March 2020.

The project, which begins at Simora junction in Laoang town and Palapag town junction, traverses remote villages of Laoang, Catubig, and Palapag towns.

Under the agreement, the DPWH shoulders the cost of road right-of-way acquisitions.

To reach the capital town of Catarman, residents of Palapag and three other Pacific towns -- Mapanas, Gamay, and Lapinig -- need to cross the river twice through a pump boat ride.

From the port in Pangpang village in Palapag, travelers need to cross the river to Calomotan village of Laoang, then take a boat ride to the port in the town center and ride another pump boat to cross the river going to Rawis village.

Last year, the DPWH pushed for the extension of the validity of a Korean-funded loan for the Samar Pacific Coastal Road due to pre-construction delays.

The National Economic and Development Authority-Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee approved last Dec. 6, 2017 the loan validity extension of the foreign-funded project from Jan. 18, 2018 to Jan. 17, 2020.

The extension of the implementation from September 2017-July 2019 to January 2018-December 2019 was also approved.

The project has been delayed due to security issues, bidding failures, concerns on hiring of consulting services, and late submission of deliverable bidding documents. (SQM/PNA)