By Danny O. Calleja
LEGAZPI CITY, Nov. 8 (PNA) –- Assured of funds from next year’s national budget, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has started implementing various infrastructure projects in the island-province of Catanduanes worth a total of about Php278 million, according to a local public works official.
Engineer Melvin Navarro, the public works and highways regional director for Bicol based here, said in a statement over the week that the projects involve 45 infrastructures listed in the province’s share in the DPWH budget for 2015 and include multi-purpose school buildings, roads, bridges and a water system.
The DPWH engineering office in Catanduanes, headed by district engineer Romeo Doloiras, has started bidding out to qualified private contractors some of the projects as early as last October in preparation for prompt implementation next year, Navarro said.
So far, four clusters of the projects, covering the construction of 13 multi-purpose buildings that cost Php1.5 million each and whose funding was made possible through the initiative of Rep. Cesar Sarmiento of the province’s lone congressional district, were bid out last month, he said.
These buildings are for the Bigaa Elementary School in Virac town; Mabini Elementary School in Panganiban; San Vicente Elementary School in Bagamanoc; Tinago Elementary School, Viga; Obi Elementary School, Caramoran; Central and Lourdes Elementary Schools in Pandan; Guinobatan Elementary School in Bato; Mabato Elementary School in San Miguel; San Roque Elementary School in Bato; and Sicmil Integrated School in Gigmoto.
For bidding next week, Navarro said, are the Catanduanes State University (CSU) multi-purpose building project at its Virac campus worth Php3 million and four more similar buildings that could be used as evacuation centers during calamities in Barangay Sta. Cruz, Virac; Barangay San Juan, San Miguel; and Barangay Sapang Palay, San Andres, each costing Php2 million, Navarro said.
There will also be an Alternative Learning System (ALS) building worth Php1 million at the Virac Central School included in these project listings while the Juan M. Alberto Memorial Elementary School in Barangay Lanao, Virac; and Bonot Elementary School, San Andres are each having multi-purpose building to be constructed at the cost of Php1.8 million and Php1.2 million respectively.
Barangay halls for Pacogon, San Miguel and Bagatabao in Bagamanoc are also to be constructed for Php1.5 million each while multi-purpose buildings are also up for construction at the Viga town plaza and Poblacion, Baras.
Also included in the DPWH listings of infra projects for Catanduanes under next year’s budget are the construction of the multi-purpose building for the Catanduanes National High School worth Php10 million and more barangay multi-purpose buildings/hall constructions/repair in Sogod and San Roque, Virac, Ananong, Viga; and Macutal, Baras, Navarro said.
Local road construction projects worth a total of Php49 million have likewise been included in the budget while Php9.3 million has been allotted to improvements of national roads and bridges along the Catanduanes Circumferential Road, covering two kilometers of intermittent sections, he said, adding that a Php3-million potable water system will be built in Caramoran.
Moreover, an amount of Php46.5 million has been earmarked for the rehabilitation, reconstruction and upgrading of damaged national roads, including drainage at the San Andres-Virac sections, while a total of Php104 million will go to the construction and maintenance of bridges in Caramoran town.
Navarro clarified that the early bidding of the projects is in compliance with the instruction from DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson to fast track project implementation under a simplified procedural and administrative requirements.
“We also require district engineering offices to post the required bid information in the agency’s website and to ensure that all biddings are done with utmost transparency and competitiveness sans the influence of politicians or any other persons in the bidding process and selection of contractors,” the DPWH regional chief stressed.
Violation of these requirements on the part of district engineers would mean equivalent sanctions, Navarro warned.
He said the multimillion-peso infrastructure projects being assigned to Catanduanes are part of the commitment of the administration of Pres. Benigno Aquino to stimulate growth in the island that is considered as an ecotourism industry growth area owing to its vibrant ecological resources and exotic coastal waters and beaches being frequented by water sports enthusiasts.
The island is also the country’s leading producer of abaca fiber that is highly in demand both in the domestic and international markets. (PNA)