DPWH eyes daily road repair work in summer

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) wants to repair major roads every day instead of just on weekends once summer starts, an official said yesterday.

DPWH-National Capital Region director Reynaldo Tagudando said he intends to ask the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) for permission to “work every day on concrete reblocking” once classes end.

Classes in elementary and high school in public schools are scheduled to end during the last week of March.

Considering the backlog on their road repair program, Tagudando said he is hoping that MMDA would allow them continue working even during weekdays until the second week of June.

The DPWH is currently allowed to do road repairs only on weekends.

In his proposal, Tagudando said their road repairs cover EDSA and other national roads.

“There are still a lot of concrete re-blockings that have not yet been done. Only 50 percent of our concrete re-blocking program for 2013 has been completed. If we only work during weekends, these projects would spill over up to 2015, not to mention that there are other concrete re-blocking activities that are also lined up for 2014,” he said.

Tagudando also said the DPWH will coordinate with utility firms to avoid instances wherein these firms would dig up roads that have been repaired.