DPWH-Benguet 1st District Eng’g Office’ infra projects spur economic development

December 7, 2021 Provincial

Some 70 infrastructure projects from the P1.5- Billion program amount FY 2021, marked by the so called Roads Leveraging Linkages for Industry and Trade (ROLL IT) Program and Tourism Road Infrastructure Program (TRIP) were completed, according to the Benguet 1st District Engineering Office of the Department of Public Works and Highways-Cordillera (DPWH-CAR).
Based on the report by Engr. Menelaus Santos, Chief,Construction Section and prepared by Mark Steven Morales,Monitoring Engineer to Engr. Isagani Cayme, Officerin- charge of the Benguet 1st District Engineer Office, as of Nov. 30, 2021, several ROLL IT and TRIP projects have been completed in line with the national government’s efforts to increased economic activities leading to “new normal” period.
Topping the list are: KABAYAN – Ballay – Tabio- To no man – Bulalacao – Tawangan-Lusod Road leading to Bulalacao Lakes and Mt. Tabeo; Kaling; Kaling Bridge- Lower Bashoy-Upper Babadak Road leading to Mt Pulag; Timbak Caves Road leading to Timnbak Caves and Mummy of Mt Apo Anno; BOKOD-Bila Access Road leading to Abiang Hot Springs.
In ITOGON-Guisset-Binga-Baloy-Tinontgdan Road leading to Binga Dam and Mt. Ugo; Cawayan-Calwe-Balococ- Cashet Road to San Manuel Pangasinan in support to coffee, cacao, bamboo, banana, livestock, heirloom rice, high value crops, mineral-gold production, loom weaving industries.
And in TUBA- Camp 3 Torre-Antamok-Mangga-Belis-Piminggan Ansagan Proper Road in support of cacao and coffee industry; and (SABLAN) Beckes-Bulala Road also in support to coffee,cacao bamboo,cutflower,tiger grass,fruit trees,heirloom rice, livestock, and other high value crops.
These eight completed ROLL IT and TRIP projects has a total value worth P97 million.
Other completed projects FY 2021 according to type of works include-flood mitigation, road widening, slope protection, construction of waterworks, among others.
Also for FY 2021, the agency reported there are 12 Farm-to-Market (FMR) road projects which has a programmed allocation of P148.5 million.
Among the on-going FMR projects include—Opening and concreting of Sitio Marooc to Sitio Camiding, Brgy Loacan (Itogon); Concreting of Sitio Sapid, Brgy Pacso (Kabayan); Opening and concreting of Talite-Pangalasay, Brgy Bayabas (Sablan); and Concreting of Sitio Pagalan to Sitio Bulala,Brgy Bayabas also in Sablan, among others.
The agency also reported that some FMR projects have encountered delays due to issues of road right of way.And insufficient materials, equipment and manpower to the project site which the agency issued sterned warnings to contractors.
Contractors were instructed to fast track the delivery of needed materials to be able to catch up with the planned accomplishment.
Meanwhile, in 2020 , Benguet 1st District Eng’g Office posted 99.82 percent of accomplishment, completed 79 out of the 80 programmed infrastructure projects.
Also in 2020, the agency completed the construction of a Midas Elementary School building worth P17.867 million located in Itogon.
“The infrastructure program anchored on the Build Build Build (BBB) initiative still remain among the top economic priorities of the government, “Acting Secretary Roger G. Mercado highlighted during the 2021 Philippine Economic Briefing with Foreign Chambers of Commerce held recently, based on the DPWH news dispatched.
“Investments on infrastructure will be the key drivers in bolstering economic development to build a better post-pandemic economy,” Mercado added.
Primo Agatep/ ABN