DPWH IFUGAO 2ND DISTRICT OFFICE OPENS 3 NEW BLDGS.

March 29, 2025 Provincial

AGUINALDO, IFUGAO

The Department of Public Works and Highways Ifugao Second District Engineering Office launched its three new buildings on March 20 at Barangay Talite, Aguinaldo, Ifugao. Congressman Solomon R. Chungalao and Governor Jerry U. Dalipog led local officials in marking the event together with Second District Engineer Rommel Balajo and DPWH-Cordillera Assistant Regional Director Emmanuel Diaz who
represented Regional Director Khadaffy Tanggol. The agency launched its three-storey office building number two, an extension of its
main office building, and the two-storey employees’ quarters and three-storey employees’ quarters and guest house.

The three buildings have a combined worth of P138 million funding from the DPWH. Balajo said they are currently constructing the
motorpool with testing laboratory and multipurpose hall, which is targeted to be finished within four months. “By then makukumpleto na
lahat ang facilities ng office; pang first class District Engineering Office na ang facilities natin,” Balajo said in his speech. “So, sir apo congressman, we can push for the conversion of our office from 2nd class office to 1st Class office with of course, the conversion of the
provincial roads or bypass roads to national roads,” he said to the solon.

In the DPWH department order no. 110 or the guidelines on the creation and classification or reclassification of DEOs in 2016, 1st class DEOs must have an equivalent road length of 250 kilometers and above; 2nd class must have 100 km to 249 km road length; and 3rd class DEOs must have 100 km and below road length.

Lobbying for District 2

Cong. Chungalao said he lobbied for the creation of the DPWH Second District to make sure that there will be continuous funding for the road networks and infrastructures of the municipalities: Banaue, Mayoyao, Aguinaldo and Alfonso Lista. His lobbying to then president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo resulted in the passage of Republic Act 9688 in 2009, which created the Ifugao Second District Engineering Office. The office started operation in 2010, and was accommodated by the Youth Center in Aguinaldo town for 11 years. It was only when the solon came back in office in 2019 that the main building for the Second District was funded and finished by 2021.

The office now employs close to 300 individuals in the province. Cong. Chungalao thanked the DPWH from the district, region and national for implementing the various projects in District 2. “Awan iti nagado nga saritaek, ta amo yo met, naninupud idi nag pulitika ak ti motto’k ket: ‘aton hapiton’—kunak, aramid ti pakakitaan,” Chungalao said. Also gracing the event were Aguinaldo Mayor Gaspar Chilagan Jr. and Mayoyao Mayor Jimmy Padchanan Jr., among other officials from the DPWH, line agencies, and institutions.

“With these new and improved facilities, the Ifugao 2nd District commits to provide better services for the development of our beloved Ifugao which we all envision,” Balajo said. The DPWH Ifugao First District, meanwhile, is located at the provincial center in Lagawe, which caters to the District 1 of the province: Asipulo, Hingyon, Hungduan, Kiangan, Lagawe, Lamut, and Tinoc.