DPWH-Abra: Barbs on projects misplaced

     

BANGUED, Abra – Following media barbs, the Department of Public Works and Highways -Abra District Engineering Office official said implementation of projects by DPWH offices depends on funds allocated per project and gave update of infrastructure projects in the province.

“Only projects costing less than P100 million are implemented by the district engineering offices,” said Agnes Borlas-Bernardez, head of construction section, DPWH-Abra DE in interview with media. Bernardez said the three big bridge construction projects in the province of Abra are to be undertaken by the DPWH-Cordillera regional office and by the DPWH-Central Office.

The construction of Baay Bridge along the Abra-Cervantes National Road in Barangay Lagangilang will be implemented by the DPWH-CAR while the construction of Soot Bridge along the Abra-Ilocos Norte National Road in La Paz with a project cost of P402 million and Damalin Bridge along Abra-Cervantes Road worth P136 million will be administered by the DPWH-Central Office.

She, however, could not tell when these projects that   are long awaited by the people of Abra would start.

Giving updates on other bridge projects in the province, Bernardez reported that the construction of the San Antonio Bridge in Bangued that started in 2016 with an initial fund of P15 million is still ongoing with an additional fund of P50 million for 2017.

She reported  repair of existing bridges along two major road networks in the province are being carried out. The Calaba Bridge along the Abra-Ilocos Norte National Road that was constructed by the past administrations is allocated with Php4M while the Alinaya Bridge along Abra-ilocos Sur Road in Pidigan is earmarked P7.3M for their repair and improvement. -- PIA Abra