Mt Province 2nd DPWH office to start operating

By Erlindo Agwilang Jr.

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- The second district office of Mountain Province District Engineering Office (MPDEO) will now start operation three years after Republic Act 10379 establishing the same was approved into law.

It will cover eastern municipalities of Barlig, Natonin and Paracelis. This, after Highways Sec. Mark A. Villar directed operationalization of the district office in Department Order 190, series of 2016.

       “Pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act No. 10379, dated March 8, 2013, the Mountain Province 2^nd DEO is hereby operationalized under the DPWH-CAR to be located in the Municipality of Natonin, Mountain Province,” Villar’s order stated.

Rep. Maximo B. Dalog, principal author of R.A. 10379, said Villar’s order was timely as several infrastructure projects were being considered for implementation especially in eastern areas of the province.

Among significant projects being implemented is upgrading of tertiary roads in eastern Mountain Province like Talubin-Barlig-Natonin-Paracelis-Calaccad Road and Mountain Province-Isabela Road.

On Aug. 7, 2014, Dalog, who had been pushing infrastructure development of eastern part of the province asked then Sec. Rogelio L. Singson to issue implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for execution of RA 10379.

Later,  the Regional Development Council and Sangguniang Panlalawigan including Sangguniang Bayan of Natonin passed separate resolutions asking DPWH to hasten  implementation of the law. Last August 24, Dalog reiterated same request to the DPWH in a meeting with Villar.

The DPWH acceded with Villar issuing the department order on Sept. 13.

        In an interview, Dalog expressed gratefulness of the people of Mountain Province to Villar for the speedy issuance of the department order, allowing the second district to finally operate.

“The people of Mountain Province are very thankful to Secretary Villar and the Duterte administration for issuing the order immediately even in just a few weeks after we asked for it.The people will remember this as a legacy in favor of Secretary Villar for being the DPWH secretary who made it possible,” Dalog added.  

Villar’s department order said initial cost to operationalize the second district engineering office shall be charged against funds of the department, subject to existing accounting and auditing rules.

        Succeeding funding requirements shall be included in the annual budget of the department.

Villar also ordered that the Mountain Province 2^nd District Engineering Office be constituted and manned by appropriate personnel from the regional office and mother DEO, subject to approval by the Department of Budget and Management and Civil Service rules.