DPWH execs told: Work double time on major infrastructure projects

MANILA, Philippines - Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. has ordered all regional directors of his agency to work “double time” to be able to complete major infrastructure projects by December or early next year as instructed by President Arroyo.

Should good weather prevail, Ebdane said work on these projects should be in “three shifts, seven days a week.”

Ebdane said infrastructure projects would help reverse the migration of rural folk to urban areas, including Metro Manila where 18,650 people, on average, now occupy every square kilometer of land.

In Northern Samar, considered as one of the poorest provinces in the country, the DPWH is rehabilitating a stretch of the national highway from Allen town to Calbayog City.

The project is divided into two packages: the 35.7-kilometer stretch of Allen-Malaga Road costing P1.6 billion, and the 36.76-kilometer Malaga-Calbayog Road worth P2 billion.

“These projects will boost the tourism and business potential of the province. With progress coming in, people here will have second thoughts about going to urban centers like Metro Manila to find jobs and business opportunities,” said DPWH-Eastern Visayas director Angelito Twaño.

Twaño said more funds are needed to complete other major projects, including the P1.4-billion rehabilitation of 75 kilometers of dilapidated roads in Eastern Samar; P600-million rehabilitation of the Wright-Taft-Borongan Road; P272 million for the Taft-Oras-San Policarpio Road; and P527 million for the Borongan-Guiuan Road.

DPWH Undersecretary Rafael Yabut, who is in charge of Visayas operations, has expressed optimism that they would meet their targets.