TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The Department of Public Works and Highways–Lower Kalinga District Engineering Office (DPWH-LKDEO) will be implementing some sixty-four infrastructure projects worth P1.656 billion this year to help in improving the state of infrastructure within its area of jurisdiction.
DPWH-LKDEO officer-in-charge Engr. Ruby Uyam disclosed that of the 64 projects, 27 are ongoing while 37 are ready for implementation as documentary requirements are currently being completed for them to be given the green light for the contractors to proceed with the prosecution of their awarded works.
Uyam claimed that of the 37 projects that are yet to be implemented, 10 projects have been subjected for later release while 9 projects underwent modifications to suit the prevailing situation in the areas where the projects will be implemented.
The DPWH-LKDEO official said that all the modifications of those projects and those that had been subjected for later release were already completed before the implementation of the election ban on government spending and implementation of projects that is why the agency is preparing to monitor the way the contractors prosecute their projects pursuant to specifications and standards.
Among the infrastructure projects being implemented within the area of jurisdiction of the DPWH-LKDEO include rehabilitation and improvement of roads and bridges and put up of vertical structures of schools and other government agencies.
Uyam expressed hope that all the programmed infrastructure projects this year will be implemented the soonest after the completion of the required documents to improve the infrastructures in the province.
The DPWH-LKDEO covers Tabuk City and the nearby towns of Pinukpuk, Rizal and Tanudan where bulk of the infrastructure projects of the agency had been lodged over the past several years since the creation of the district office.
For the projects that had been subjected for later release last year, Uyam stipulated that the P84 million earmarked for one of the major infrastructure projects in the province had already been released and the contractors are simply working on the completion of their documents before starting the implementation of the projects.
She expressed her gratitude to Rep. Alen Jesse C. Mangaoang for his unwavering and uncompromising support to the agency by constantly following up the release of the funds for all the programmed projects so that the DPWH-LKDEO can start implementing these and help in spurring economic growth and development in the countryside.
One of the major infrastructures projects being implemented by the agency is the proposed Chico mega-dike project that is currently awaiting the completion of its feasibility study while the projects that are being undertaken are through the multi-year obligation of funds that started sometime in 2017 up to date.