MANILA: Three significant infrastructure projects totaling PHP174.57 million have been successfully completed in Regions IV-B, XII, and II, as announced by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
According to Philippines News Agency, the DPWH revealed that the projects include the construction of an access road worth PHP96 million in San Agustin, Romblon; a steel bridge costing PHP5.78 million in Sarangani province; and a PHP72.3-million flood control rehabilitation in Abulug, Cagayan.
Regional Office IV-B Director Gerald Pacanan reported to DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan that the Romblon road project is set to bolster President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s initiative to enhance agri-trading and uplift the livelihood activities of local farmers. The 1.69-kilometer road, stretching from Barangay Binongahan to Barangay Do±a Juana in San Agustin, features grouted riprap, metal guardrails, and stone masonry with reinforced pipe culvert. This newly paved road is intended to provide all-weather access, reducing road hazards impacting residents and farmers, especially during the rainy season.
The prompt completion of the road project by the Romblon District Engineering Office under the 2024 DPWH Infrastructure Program has already shown a significant improvement in the timely delivery of local produce to market centers in neighboring communities.
In parallel, the DPWH has finished constructing a hanging steel bridge in Barangay Kihan, an inland village in Malapatan, Sarangani. Region 12 Director Basir Ibrahim stated that the PHP5.78 million project includes a 56-meter steel hanging footbridge, drainage, slope protection, and a concrete pavement connecting the bridge to the main road. This infrastructure, funded by the 2024 General Appropriations Act, aims to ensure the safety of residents, including indigenous people, during typhoon seasons by providing crucial access to services.
Ibrahim highlighted that the bridge facilitates safer passage for school children, farmers, and locals to the town, enhancing their educational and economic activities. Furthermore, it boosts agricultural productivity by lowering transport costs for farm produce and is expected to promote local tourism, drawing visitors to explore Malapatan's natural attractions.
Finally, the DPWH reported the completion of flood control structure rehabilitation along the Abulug River in Barangay Dugo, Cagayan, a region prone to flooding. Region II officer-in-charge Director Mathias Malenab indicated that the PHP72.3 million project, funded by the 2024 GAA, involved building a reinforced concrete revetment with board piles and hexapod blocks. These enhancements are designed to mitigate river swelling and erosion, protecting residential, agricultural, and infrastructural assets.
The newly rehabilitated flood control structure, implemented by the DPWH Cagayan 2nd District Engineering Office, is anticipated to offer long-term benefits, securing the community's safety and ensuring the resilience of surrounding areas against extreme weather conditions.
