THE Second Leyte Engineering District of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH 2nd LED) posted 31 percent of accomplished projects programmed and budgeted for 2016.
Out of the 68 total number of infrastructure projects being undertaken in the second district, 17 of these have already been completed, while 32 are still ongoing.
However, 18 projects have yet to be started. These include the P48-million completion of the remaining parts of the Burauen-Albuera Road and the P23.4-million Pinamitinan Bridge in Pinamopoan, Capoocan, Leyte.
The DPWH is keen on completing the Burauen-Albuera road this 2016, after being under construction for eight years now. The road, when fully completed, would allow transportation along this route from Tacloban to Albuera, a town next to Ormoc City.
All of the remaining projects, which have yet to be started, are still under pre-detailed engineering activities.
The 2nd LED has more than P523 million in budget for various infrastructure projects in 2016.
Among the priority project for 2016 is the repair and rehabilitation of 18 bridges. Most of bridge within the area are either old or have been damaged by heavy rains and water flow during the past typhoons.
Also appropriated are widening and road reblocking along the Palo-Carigara-Ormoc road.
District Engineer Carlos Veloso said that this vital highway that cuts across Leyte province have been steadily widened in order to accommodate increasing traffic flow.
Veloso said the office is targeting to finish the Hiagsam Bridge in Jaro, Leyte by June 2016 -- an extended target date as per request by its contractor.
The bridge will be a breakthrough with four lanes to accommodate more traffic and built safer and more resistant to flashfloods. The Hiagsam Bridge was destroyed during the onslaught of Typhoon Seniang in 2014.
As the government’s lead construction agency, the DPWH’s budget allocation is the second biggest among government departments.
In 2016, the DPWH plans to complete the paving of all national arterial and secondary roads, as well as the continuing development of the national road network—including tertiary roads—and the preservation of road assets. (PNA)