DBM releases P2B to DPWH

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released P2 billion to the Department of Public Works and Highways to support the rehabilitation and construction of national bridges as part of the ongoing economic development efforts  of the Aquino administration.

The bridge program, dubbed Tulay ng Pangulo Para Sa Kaunlarang Pang-Agraryo,” covers the construction and installation of 418 pre-fabricated steel bridges in selected agrarian reform communities nationwide. It is jointly implemented by the DPWH-Bridge Management Cluster (BMC) and the Department of Agrarian Reform.

The amount will cover bridging materials and related foreign materials that include h-piles and reinforcing steel bars, all of which have already been delivered nationwide.

According to the DBM, the bridge program will link various agrarian reform communities to mainstream economic venues and promote development potentials through the construction and installation of pre-fabricated modular steel bridges.

DBM Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad said the government is keen on sustaining its efforts to ramp up rural and country-side development by continuously providing assistance to agrarian reform communities and beneficiaries nationwide.

“The latest release for the construction of this bridge will continue to open opportunities for agribusiness development by linking our farmers to markets where they can sell their produce, as well as connect agri-communities to other commercial areas to encourage greater and more productive trade.

This is all alongside the government’s other support interventions aimed to improve the production and income of our farmers,” Abad said.

Abad said the DAR has already endorsed a total of 287 bridges for completion. This includes 47 bridge projects in the Visayas region, specifically for regions VI and VII, where families were greatly affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda.