Plan revisions delay reconstruction of Yolanda-hit DTI office

PALO, Leyte, Oct. 16  -- The reconstruction of Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) regional office here, which was destroyed by the super typhoon in 2013, may not push through before the 5th commemoration of the deadly disaster on November 8.

DTI Eastern Visayas Regional Director Cynthia Nierras said it took time to revise the design of the office building especially after it got additional PHP29 million on top of the original PHP35 million approved outlay under the post-“Yolanda” Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan.

“We came up with the building plan twice. If the project will start within November and December 2018, it will be completed by September 2019,” Nierras told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) in a phone interview Tuesday.

One of the requirements of the building's design is to make it more resilient to natural calamities.

Funds have been downloaded to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the agency tasked to carry out the reconstruction project, said to Nierras.

“DPWH will present to us the final building plan before it will be advertised. Actual construction will start as soon as the project is awarded to the winning contractor,” Nierras added.

Despite the damaged office, the official said their operations have been back to normal since early 2014. They currently rent a space at the Leyte Academic Center owned by the provincial government of Leyte.

“Our operation has been normal since we are in a comfortable working place without images of destruction,” Nierras said.

The DTI regional office is located at the Government Center of this town, 12 kilometers away from Tacloban City. (SQM/PNA)