Public Works optimistic of early project completion

DEPARTMENT of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Baguio District Engineer Ireneo Gallato is confident that the ongoing road repairs will be finished on time.

Gallato believes the contractors are capable of finishing the projects based on their past and present performances. He cited the Marcos Highway rehabilitation as an example.

“A lot were saying that it was very untimely especially for the Panagbenga but it was even finished earlier before its target date,” Gallato stressed.

At present, there are six ongoing road repairs situated at Kisad Road, Andres Bonifacio, Abanao Ext., Baguio-Bauang Road and two at PMA.

Gallato said projects with a budget below 20 million will be finished before the end of June and those from 20 million to 50 million will be before September such as the Kisad Road, and Baguio Bauang Road.

On the other hand, it can be remembered last year that their agency received a lot of complaints and criticisms due to the untimely implementation of road projects causing heavy traffic.

“We have learned a lesson during that time that’s why this year we did some precautionary measures to avoid having that problem again,” said Gallato.

Some of these precautionary measures are staggered implementation of the projects and information dissemination for public awareness. Also, they have considered information and inputs from the public.

He added as early as 2011, they have conducted project biddings so when the budget was released last January, it was awarded immediately to the contractors and road repairs were started at once. (Analiza Galawa)