 DPWH officials inspect the unfinished Burauen-Albuera Road project in Leyte. (Photo: ormoccityleyte.blogspot.com) Geonets used in Burauen-Albuera road project in Leyte TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines, Oct. 22 -- Coconut fiber made into geonets were utilized to stabilize a slope portion of the Burauen-Albuera road project in consonance with an order of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to use coconut fiber made into bio-engineering materials for soil erosion control and slope stabilization. The geonets that run the length of 11,258 square meters and which cover the mountain slope along Brgy. Matin-ao in Burauen, Leytes, cost the Burauen-Albuera road project around P15.5 million to already include 1,080 cubic meter of stone masonry. The DPWH’s department order is based on Malacanang’s memorandum circular 25 directing all national and local government agencies to use coco peat or coir dust and coconut fiber materials for soil conditioning and erosion control in line with the continuing efforts to upgrade construction technology As per DPWH order, coconut geonets shall be used on critical cut slopes, embankments and disturbed soil generally steep, where water velocities are likely to wash out soils and new vegetation. The DPWH said it will maximize in the implementation of projects the use of coconut fiber made into geonets like coconets, coco-twines, and coco peat as bioengineering materials for soil erosion control and slope stabilization. Meanwhile, 2nd LED District Engineer Carlos Veloso, who earlier vowed that completion of the Burauen-Albuera road is among his priorities for 2013, recently inspected the area and expects the project to be completed soon. The 36.22-kilometer road opening project started in 2008. It traverses some rebel-infested villages in the borders of northern and western Leyte. Currently, 14.25 kilometers of the road section is concrete, 10.06 kilometers are gravel, 48 meters of bridges while more than six kilometers remain unopened. The DPWH said the road will shorten travel time from Tacloban City to Ormoc City, develop upland villages, and improve the peace and order situation of rebel-infested areas. Motorists coming from the regional capital have to pass through eight towns to get to Ormoc City with a distance of 107 kilometers. In the new road, travelers will reach Ormoc from Tacloban by passing through five towns with a combined road length of 89 kilometers. (PNA) Vital bridge in Burauen-Albuera road project nears completion TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines, Oct 22 -- The P18 million Balagnon Bridge in the Burauen-Albuera road project is nearing completion, says a report by the 2nd Leyte Engineering District of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). A recent inspection made by 2nd LED District Engr. Carlos Veloso revealed the bridge to be 95 percent complete. The Balagnon Bridge, which runs the length of 40 meters, is one of the three bridges in the Burauen side of the road project. The other two are the Matagara Bridge, which is now passable through a spillway, and the Libas Bridge which will cost around P21.2 million and will be started once the Balagnon Bridge is fully completed. Engr. Veloso earlier disclosed that he intends to finish the Burauen section of the Burauen-Albuera road, possibly before the year ends. “This is an important project since it would cut travel time as well as open up new possibilities for barangays along these areas in Burauen,” Veloso said. However, according to the DPWH regional office-8, the Burauen-Albuera link may be fully realized in 2016 for as long as the central government will pour out an average of P300 million every year. This road project, once completed, will shorten travel time from Tacloban City to Ormoc City, develop upland villages, and improve the peace and order situation of rebel-infested areas. Motorists coming from the regional capital have to pass through eight towns to get to Ormoc City with a distance of 107 kilometers. In the new road, travelers will reach Ormoc from Tacloban by passing through five towns with a combined road length of 89 kilometers. The project will also be a shorter route from Tacloban City to Baybay City, with a difference of 30 kilometers from the existing national road. The allotment for Burauen-Albuera Road is part of the P5.08 billion infrastructure development program for the Eastern Visayas region. (PNA)  Goverment shutdown has no effect on US-funded project in Samar Island TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines, Oct. 7 – Funding for the construction of the United States–sponsored $ 214.4-million Secondary National Roads Development Project (SNRDP) in Samar Island is assured amid US Federal government shutdown. Millennium Challenge Account–Philippines (MCA-P) managing director and chief executive officer Maria Victoria Añonuevo said they were able to secure funding approval for the last quarter of the year a week before the shutdown. “There’s no effect as the funds have already been committed. We have cash disbursement approval already for the rest of 2013. It would really be a disaster if the shutdown lasts until next year,” Añonuevo said. Under the agreement, MCA-P may request disbursements to be made under the grant by submitting a written request to the US government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation not later than 20 days prior to the commencement of each disbursement period. For 2013, all disbursement of Philippine compact projects - SNRDP, Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan- Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS), Revenue Administration Reform Project (RARP) – have already been signed by MCC before the shutdown on October 1. The US government shutdown took place for the first time in 17 years as legislators failed to pass a new budget on time The official said that implementation is on track and rehabilitation of all four road segments is expected to be completed in April 2016. “All of the four contract packages of the road project are now on its construction phase,” Añonuevo added. MCA-P is a Philippine entity responsible for managing the implementation of the $ 434-million grant from the US government’s MCC. The road project, the biggest component of the US grant, has four contract packages. It was awarded to seven contractors. Only two are based in Eastern Visayas. The $ 214-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.(PNA) Decade-old Leyte road project gets P322-M outlay for 2014 TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines, Oct 9 -- A decade-old Burauen – Albuera Road project will get P322 million funding in 2014 but still not enough to make the 36.22 kilometers highway passable, a regional official of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said. Edgar B. Tabacon, DPWH assistant regional director said that P172 million will be used to construct bridges while P150 million is needed to pave gravel roads and road opening activities next year. “The road opening project is very costly since it stretches through mountains with steep slopes and rivers. Unstable soil built up also triggers landslide, hence disrupting construction activities,” Tabacon said. Of the 36.22 kilometers road length, only 17.25 kilometers is concrete. Some 10.06 kilometers is gravel and 8.43 kilometers is still unopened this year. About 6.26 kilometers of the road is still not passable in Albuera side and 2.17 kilometers in Burauen side. Three bridges are up for construction in Burauen and one bridge in Albuera. “As of 2011 estimates, the road project requires additional funding of P1.19 billion. To include the 2014 allocation, the national government has already set aside P583 million. We still need P609 million to complete the project,” Tabacon explained. Laying of the link may be realized in 2016 for as long as the central government will pour out an average of P300 million every year. For Albuera side alone, the national government has already released P375 million from 2004 to 2013. These were largely spent for road opening. For Burauen side, some P161 million were allocated for the road project from 2011 up to this year. The DPWH regional office has no available data on the budget set aside for Leyte 2nd district prior to 2011. Earlier, Secretary Rogelio Singson ordered for a probe of the road project that is still not passable amid multi-million releases. “The project appeared controversial because in documents, the title is opening of Burauen-Albuera road. It was not specified in documents that the budget for opening refers only to a small portion. We’re able to explain the real score of the project and I think the investigation team was able to understand,” Tabacon explained. “The fact that the central office will release higher funding next year indicates that past allocations were not enough.” The road aims to connect Leyte’s second biggest town of Burauen to Albuera in the western side of the province traversing rebel-infested villages. This will substantially reduce travel time from the regional capital to Ormoc City. Presently, motorists coming from the regional capital have to pass through eight towns to get to Ormoc City with a distance of 107 kilometers. In the new road, travelers will reach Ormoc from Tacloban by passing through five towns with a combined road length of 89 kilometers. The project will also be a shorter route from Tacloban City to Baybay City, with a difference of 30 kilometers from the existing national road. Once the road is completed, Burauen will just be 47 kilometers away from Ormoc City. The two are neighboring areas but motorist has to drive in the existing 129-kilometer highway to reach Ormoc City from Burauen town. (PNA) |
Road improvements in Leyte near completion TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines, Oct 24 – In keeping with its vision of improving the life of every Filipino through quality infrastructure, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) through the 2nd Leyte Engineering District is nearly completing P25 million worth of road widening and improvement of the national highways under its jurisdiction. Two of these road improvement and widening projects are found in Dulag and Mac Arthur towns amounting to P10 million and P15 million, respectively. Improvement of the highway in Brgy. San Jose, Dulag, Leyte consist of stone masonry while road shoulders were constructed along the highway in Mac Arthur town. The national highway traversing through these towns are important links for vehicles plying the routes from Luzon to the Mindanao area. District Engineer Carlos Veloso called on his engineers to strictly comply with the guidelines on the maintenance of national roads and bridges for the safety and convenience of the general public. He said the intensified implementation of public works and highways projects and improvement of existing national highways strengthens economic activity, moves people and goods faster, cheaper and safer; and facilitates the traffic decongestion. Efficient maintenance of all national roads and bridges within their jurisdiction is always his top priority, Engr. Veloso said. Meanwhile, it was learned that under the 2014 National Expenditure Program, road sections covered by the Leyte Second Engineering District (2nd LED), will get P95.74 million for rehabilitation, P12 million for road slip, P1.5 million for bridge repair, P19.71 million for drainage system, P14.24 million for asphalt overlay, and P28 million for paving of shoulders. Engr. Veloso said that with the inclusion of huge budget for 2014 maintenance activities for the road network, more improvements will be done along the highways in Leyte’s second district. (PNA) DPWH 8 orders immediate assessment of all infrastructures in EV TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines, Oct. 21 -- The Dept. of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) here has ordered for an "immediate assessment" of all infrastructures in Eastern Visayas following the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that severely affected Bohol and Cebu and even felt in some parts of this region. DPWH regional director Rolando Asis in a memorandum to all district engineers urged them to determine "whether or not the structures need immediate retrofitting or rehabilitation" and if they are "still structurally safe for occupancy." The structures to be covered include among others bridges, hospitals, school buildings and churches. "Submit report not later than Nov. 13," he stated. In an initial report submitted earlier by Asis to the central office, he said that the quake caused no damage to bridges and other infrastructures in the region. However, as per its record, there are at least 171 public buildings and 257 bridges that are prone to damages if a strong quake would occur in the region. Already the office has recommended the urgent repair of 84 structures composed of 71 classrooms, six hospitals and other health facilities, two health centers, and five government offices. Further, 160 bridges need major repair, 51 should be retrofitted and 46 for reconstruction. (PNA) NGCP reinforces transmission corridor in Eastern Visayas TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines, Oct 8 – The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) in ensuring steady supply of electricity in Samar has constructed a second circuit of the Ormoc-Babatngon 130-kilovolt (kV) transmission line. Though located in Leyte, the overhead transmission line is the sole corridor, which directs the power supply from the generators in Leyte to Samar. The project involves the construction of 78.54 kilometers of overhead transmission line and installation of necessary upgrade equipment at the Ormoc and Babatngon Substations. Expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2014, the project has an ERC approved cost of P697.62 million. Like Bohol island, Samar is heavily dependent on the power generated from the Leyte Geothermal Fields received through the Ormoc Substation. An unplanned outage in the existing Ormoc-Babatangon 138-kV line connected to the Ormoc Substation will result in blackout in Samar Island. “Samar Island relies on this line to meet the power demands of the province as it has no existing internal generator. NGCP will add a second circuit to the Ormoc-Babatngon line to ensure that all available power supply from Leyte will be transmitted smoothly to Samar,” said Atty. Cynthia D. Perez-Alabanza, NGCP Spokesperson. The grid operator also sees the project to address the future demand growth of Tacloban City which is served by the Leyte II Electric Cooperative (LEYECO II). NGCP is a privately owned corporation in charge of operating, maintaining, and developing the country’s power grid. It transmits high-voltage electricity through “power superhighways” that include the interconnected system of transmission lines, towers, substations, and related assets. NGCP’s regular maintenance activities and rehabilitation projects aim to enhance the reliability and quality of electricity delivered to grid-connected customers like generators, distributors, and large industries. (PNA) DPWH to bid out P6M worth of health facility projects in Samar TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines, Oct 9 -- The first district engineering office (DEO) of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Samar is set to bid out P6 million worth of health facility projects mid this month. The projects are funded under the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP) of the Department of Health (DOH) and will be implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) through its DEOs. Projects that will be undertaken by Samar I DEO include the expansion works for the Peñaplata, Sto. Niño and Rawis Barangay Health Stations (BHS) in Gandara town and Cataguio BHS at the town of San Jorge. Each project costs P1 million. The Calbayog District Hospital in Calbayog City was also allotted P2 million for its expansion. The amount allotted for the civil works component of the program will cover the preparation of the architectural and engineering designs, construction, repair and upgrading of existing ones. An ocular inspection of projects listed by the DOH for the preparation of detailed engineering design and detailed estimates is ongoing.
The entire province of Samar was allotted P25.5 million for 18 projects composed of 14 BHSs, two district hospitals and one rural health unit (RHU) and one city health office (CHO) under its HFEP. (PNA) Construction of Baybay City diversion road not affected by scrapping of PDAF TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines, Oct. 6 -- The construction of Baybay City Diversion road will not be affected by the scrapping of the Priority Development Assistance Fund(PDAF) because it is funded directly from the regular fund of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), according to Vice-Mayor Michael Cari. The city’s diversion road that spans around 5.4 kilometers has a total fund of about P500 million. It will be implemented for four tranches. It covers the upgrading of the existing 300-meter road, construction of a bridge, drainage and canals and installation of road safety devices. The road will stretch from the junction of Ormoc-Baybay Road in Brgy. Candadam, passing through Barangays Cogon and Can-ipa, crossing the Tacloban-Baybay South Road in Brgy. Gaas and ends at junction Baybay-Maasin Road in Brgy. Hipusngo. It is designed to decongest the city proper and to expand city economic development at the countryside. The Baybay diversion road is also eyed to facilitate transport of farms products to the market since this will traverse Baybay’s rice producing villages of Candadam, Cogon, Gaas and Hipusngo. Aside from facilitating the transports of farm products, it will also serve as alternative road during calamities and disasters, said Vice-Mayor Cari. For this year’s implementation the national government has already released P100 million while next year the project is expected to receive P150 million fund. (PNA) |
