THE District Engineering Office (DEO) of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Bacolod City was ranked fourth in the Highest Absorptive Capacity in the country from January to August 2019.
Bacolod City District Engineer Abraham Villareal received the award on September 18 at a rites, led by DPWH Secretary Mark Villar, in Zamboanga City.
Villareal said on Sunday, October 6, that of the 187 district engineering offices nationwide, Bacolod was ranked fourth with a score of 91.31 percent of Absorptive Capacity.
He said Albay 1st DEO ranked first place with a score of 96.80 percent, followed by Davao Occidental DEO with 94.82 percent, and Pangasinan 1st DEO in third place with 93.93 percent.
Siquijor DEO placed fifth with 92.95 percent, followed by Pangasinan 2nd DEO with 92.13 percent at sixth place, Iloilo 2nd DEO with 91.85 percent at seventh, Zamboanga Sibugay 1st DEO with 91.62 percent at eight, Eastern Samar DEO with 91.11 percent at ninth, and Nueva Vizcaya 1st DEO with 90.89 percent at tenth.
Villareal added that in 2018, DPWH-Bacolod was also ranked sixth among the top 20 Deo's Highest Absorptive Capacity in the country.
He noted that they were judged by how they facilitated the detailed engineering activities which cover project surveillance, proper project selection, among others.
From January to May 2018, DPWH-Bacolod was also ranked first in Physical Accomplishment in Western Visayas.
Villareal said they received such awards because of the full support of Congressman Greg Gasataya for the implementation of projects in Bacolod.
"The more we perform, the more budget will come in and more projects will be implemented in the city," he said.
Meanwhile, the DPWH will temporarily suspend their road works so as not to hinder the successful celebration of the MassKara Festival.
Villareal said he already talked with the contractors that they will give them clearance to temporarily suspend their road works.
"I also requested our engineers to submit a report on the number of projects that will be affected. We will see to it that our celebration will be successful and they will coordinate with the Bacolod Traffic Authority Office (BTAO)," he said.
He added that one of the roads they will temporarily suspend is in the area along the Circumferential Road near the Bacolod Government Center.
Villareal said their equipment should not hinder the flow of the parade and other MassKara-related activities.