DPWH sets P367 million for 2014 Baguio projects

By Dexter A. See

BAGUIO CITY  – The Department of Public works and Highways earmarked at least P367 million in next year's national budget to bankroll the implementation of rehabilitation and upgrading of various national roads in this Summer Capital.

                

Ireneo S. Gallato, district engineer of the DPWH's Baguio City District Engineering Office said bulk of the funding from the national government will be used to  improve four national roads and continuance of dredging and widening of the City Camp lagoon to remedy the perennial flooding in the area that is affecting more than 5,000 residents.

                

“The funding support being extended by the national government is part of the overall plan of the Aquino administration to ensure that all national roads will be concreted before the end of his term,” Gallato said.   According to him, at least P50 million each was allocated for the rehabilitation of four national roads, particularly Kennon Road, Naguilian road, Baguio-Asin road and the newly-established Ambiong-Rimando Road, while P50 million will be utilized for the continuation of the dredging and widening of the 3.8-kilometer City Camp tunnel to avert future floodings in the City Camp area.

                

Gallato added P101 million was earmarked for preventive maintenance along various national roads in the outskirts of the city while around P16 million will be used to facilitate the construction of a flood control project in the eastern part of the city.

                

He added public bidding for the identified projects are now underway.

Awarded projects will be implemented during the early part of next year when the weather is good.

                

“We expect the downloading of more funds from other sources after the budget has been signed into law by the President, thus, we are currently coordinating with other government agencies on their priority projects that will be given to the DPWH for implementation,” Gallato said.

                

For this year, the DPWH-BCDEO completed implementation of most of its P380 million worth of infrastructure projects except for the remaining package of the 16-kilometer Baguio circumferential road due to the continuous intervention of the John Hay Management Committee (JHMC), a subsidiary of the State-owned Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), preventing the contractor from doing the replacement of the pavement to concrete pavement despite the same being declared as a national road.