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News
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August 2007 |
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08/29/07 |
EBDANE VISITS TRB OFFICE |
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 DPWH Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr. (2nd from left) stresses a point during his visit at the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) office in Ortigas Center, Pasig City. TRB, which was then placed under the Department of Transportation and Communications, was transferred and made an attached agency of the DPWH by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo by virtue of Executive Order No. 644 issued July 30, 2007. In photo with Ebdane are (from left) TRB Executive Director Manuel Imperial, DPWH Senior Undersecretary Manuel M. Bonoan, Undersecretary Bashir D. Rasuman and Assistant Secretary Rafael C. Yabut. |
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08/29/07 |
DPWH TO HELP TRB IN RROW ACQUISITION FOR EXPRESSWAY PROJECTS |
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 The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will work hand-in-hand with the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) and concerned local government units in the acquisition of road right of way for expressway project.
In a briefing at the TRB office in Ortigas Center, Pasig City, DPWH Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane, Jr. said that the Department will extend assistance in acquiring road-right-of- way to accelerate completion and expansion of expressway projects in the Philippines.
Ebdane said that the completion and expansion of expressways in the Philippines is among the priority projects of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo administration to decongest traffic and improve the economy.
Last July 30, 2007, TRB, which was then placed under the Department of Transportation and Communications, was transferred and made an attached agency of the DPWH by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo by virtue of Executive Order No. 644.
TRB Executive Director Manuel G. Imperial expressed optimism that more road right-of-way will be secured by the government through the DPWH as it is within the agency’s mandate.
Just like the DPWH which helps propel the economy though vital infrastructure projects nationwide, TRB in partnership with the private sector plays a vital role in spurring economic progress in the Philippines by improving and providing vital road networks that are necessary in revitalizing the economies of regions outside Metro Manila.
The right-of-way acquisition is among the condition in a BOT project like expressways through which Government should be able to show its strong institutional support so that a project can be implemented seamlessly as soon as the private sector is ready to start construction.
TRB entered into contracts with private investors for the expansion and rehabilitation of projects such as the North Luzon Expressway, South Luzon Expressway, Skyway, Coastal Road and Southern Tagalog Arterial Road and the construction of the new Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway that would link Metro Manila to the Central Luzon area and the special economic zones located in Subic and Clark.
Aside from issue of road right of way, Ebdane said that the TRB should ensure the strict observance of load limit/capacity to prolong the service life of expressways.
Created through Presidential Decree No. 112, Toll Regulatory Board closely supervises and regulate the collection of toll fees for the use of certain public improvements and the operation of toll facilities by the private sector. |
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08/27/07 |
EBDANE SPEARHEADS LEADERSHIP TRAINING FOR DPWH OFFICIALS |
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The two-day seminar-workshop spearheaded by DPWH Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane, Jr. culminated with strategies on how to improve the accomplishment rating of the DPWH especially in terms of project implementation.
“We have to comply with the marching orders of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to accomplish the government’s infrastructure development program outlined in the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan especially the SONA targets,” said Ebdane during the workshop.
Ebdane lectured on leadership and the formulation of strategies in problem solving, while former DPWH Secretary Fiorello R. Estuar spoke on management philosophies including the “art of governance.”
In his lecture, Estuar urged the DPWH officials to continue using the “S-curve”, as a management tool in monitoring the progress of project implementation.
The S-curve, according to Estuar, can be used to design the implementation of the project at the planning stage, to track the actual performance against the plan, and as a reading of the vital signs of a project.
Also, Congressman Danilo E. Suarez delivered his lecture on “Tax Amnesty for Government Contractors” urging the DPWH officials to advocate the program in their respective areas. “Talk to the contractors for them to avail the program,” Suarez told the officials. “We are all mandated to contribute our efforts to raise the government’s revenues,” Suarez said.
“This will be a continuing activity,” said Ebdane. “We should not only focus ourselves in tackling issues on recurring problems in project implementation, but, on how to re-tool these middle management with the necessary knowledge and tools to once and for all come up with common solutions to common problems.”
“It was quite an experience in the department’s history, for a DPWH Secretary to spearhead a leadership training at the same time addressing the prevailing issues and concerns in project implementation,” said Director Mariano R. Alquiza of the DPWH Cordillera Administrative Region.
“It was a very fruitful mental exercise and it’s really worth it. Every cent spent goes back in a more efficient and timely completion of projects thus benefiting more our people,” added Alquiza on the seminar-workshop held at Subic, Zambales participated in by 57 key DPWH officials, officers of the District Engineers League of the Philippines, and other middle management staff personnel.
Ebdane also issued his policy instructions regarding the repair and restoration of damaged roads and bridges caused by the recent typhoons.
“Inasmuch as the DPWH is mandated to mitigate the occurrence of flooding in the provinces, we have to clear the waterways with any obstructions such as illegal fishpens,” he said, as he also ordered the field officials to submit an inventory of these illegal structures along rivers and other waterways, including those in urban areas.
He also told the DPWH officials to continue without let up the “Operation Baklas Billboards” not only in Metro Manila but also in the provinces. He specifically ordered the immediate dismantling of these illegal structures erected within the road right-of-way as well as those located near the power lines. |
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08/22/07 |
DPWH BICOL REHABILITATION PROJECTS NEARS COMPLETION |
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Traces of typhoon “Reming” and “Milenyo” fury are almost unnoticeable at the Bicol Region as the Department of Public Works and Highways reported the near completion of the Calamity Assistance Rehabilitation Effort Projects in the Bicol region.
Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr. said that being proactive and taking advantage of the good weather condition in Bicol Region the department is now accelerating the programmed works under the CARE program.
“I have already instructed our regional office to assure that the rehabilitation projects would be completed as soon as possible, especially the river re-channeling and flood control structures to assure the safety of the public” Ebdane said.
In his report to Secretary Ebdane, DPWH Region 5 Director Orlando Roces said that the rechanelling and earth-diking of the heavily silted gullies and river channels along the perimeter of the Mayon Volcano are already completed and they are now constructing the flood control structures along the stretch of Yawa River Channel from Legazpi City to Malabog, Daraga, Albay and are expected to be completed by November this year.
“ We are constantly monitoring the implementation of these projects to assure that the contractors comply with approved plans and specifications” said Roces.
Roces added that the on-going repair of the vital two bridges damaged by mudflow, namely Tobgon and
Travesia Bridge are being implemented on schedule. The Tobgon Bridge is expected to be completed by January next year while the Travesia Bridge is scheduled to be completed before the start of the Peñafrancia Festival in September this year.
To date, Roces said that all national roads within the region are passable and heavy equipment and maintenance crew are already deployed in all critical areas to respond to emergency situation during the rainy season. |
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08/17/07 |
NEW DPWH DIRECTOR TAKES OATH |
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 Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane, Jr. formally administered the oath of office of DPWH Region 4-B Director Veniedo Reyes. Witnessing the ceremony are (background left to right) DPWH Assistant Secretaries Raul C. Asis and Dimas Soguilon; Congressmen Roger Mercado, Alfonso Umali and Eduardo Gullas; and DPWH Undersecretary Bashir D. Rasuman. With Director Reyes are his wife Gaudalia and children Josef and Veniedo II. |
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08/15/07 |
INSPECTING QUALITY OF WORK |
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 Assuring quality of work Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr. personally inspects the onging construction of Sulipan Bridge in Apalit, Pampanga. With Secretary Ebdane are DPWH Region 3 Director Alfredo Tolentino, Assistant Directors Marcelina Ocampo and Jesus Salmo. |
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08/14/07 |
EBDANE LEADS NEW ROUND OF BAKLAS BILLBOARD OPERATIONS |
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 Implementing President Arroyo’s AO 160 and 160-A, DPWH Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane, Jr. supervised the dismantling of seven (7) illegal structures in Caloocan City, Quezon City and Manila today.
Taken down by the BAKLAS BILLBOARD TASKFORCE were two (2) billboards, two (2) advertising structures and three (3) roof-mounted signs with no permits or authorization located along the West Service Road of the North Diversion, Caloocan City; A. Bonifacio Avenue in Quezon City, and Binondo, Manila.
“President Arroyo has given the orders, and we are now enforcing the law. Our first concern is public safety at all times,” Ebdane said.
AO 160 specifically directs the DPWH to dismantle billboards posing imminent danger or threat to life, health, safety, and property of the public; billboards violating applicable laws, rules, regulations; billboards constructed within the easement of road right-of-way; and, billboards constructed without the necessary permit.
In a recent joint meeting attended by building officials of Metro Manila, Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna and Batangas, and DPWH regional directors and district engineers, Ebdane directed the building officials to exercise their powers with prudence following protocol and proper procedures. He also widened the scope of dismantling operations to include structures that impede the flow of waterways, especially in rural areas.
Earlier, Ebdane, as the government’s National Building Official, deputized the DPWH regional directors and district engineers as building officials.
“The enforcement of the National Building Code should be done without let up to prevent any further loss to life or property,” Ebdane emphasized. He also said that the dismantling covers not only illegal billboards and other structures encroaching within the limits of the road right-of-way but also all those illegal structures with no permits.
To-date, the DPWH National Capital Region in coordination with the DPWH National Building Code Development Office has dismantled 3,890 illegal and unsafe billboards along national roads in Metro Manila. |
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08/10/07 |
NEW ASSIGNMENTS FOR DPWH EXECUTIVES |
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Latest wave of reassignments in the high level management has started at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
DPWH Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr. transferred Administrative and Manpower Management Service Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Ardeliza Medenilla to the Internal Audit Service replacing Engr. Melvin Navarro who will now perform the duties and responsibilities of Assistant Regional Director in the National Capital Region. Director Burt Favorito reassumed the top post at AMMS.
Ebdane also designated Nicasio Tambal as OIC-Assistant Regional Director of DPWH-Region IV-B following the retirement of Serafin V. Santos. Tambal used to head the Romblon District Engineering Office. Engineer Rolindo Perez took over Tambal’s post in Romblon.
Other field executives were given new assignments by virtue of Special Orders issued over the week include the designation of Ernesto S. Gregorio Jr. as OIC-Project Director of the Project Management Office (PMO) for Rural Water Supply and Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Projects; Jose C. Ong as Project Director of PMO-Korean Economic Development Cooperation Fund (KEDCF)-Assisted Projects; Subair S. Diron as Project Director of PMO-Kuwait Funds for Arab Economic Development (KFAED); Lope V. Lasam as Project Director of PMO-Asian Development Bank (ADB) assisted projects; and Nimfa E. Potante as Assistant Project Director of PMO-KEDCF-Assisted Projects.
Movements in the district level also took place with the designation of Efren C. Manalo as OIC-District Engineer of Albay 2nd District Engineering Office; Bernardo A. Alegre as OIC-District Engineer of Northern Samar 1st District Engineering Office; Virginia C. Sarabusing as OIC-District Engineer of Biliran District Engineering Office; Ernesto C. Faraon as OIC-District Engineer of La Union 2nd District Engineering Office; Pio D. Pre as OIC-District Engineer of Ilocos Norte 2nd District Engineering Office; Arturo N. Lee as OIC-Assistant District Engineer of Sorsogon District Engineering Office; Noel L. Fuentebella as OIC-Assistant District Engineer of South Manila District Engineering Office; Roseller Morallo as OIC-Assistant District Engineer of Zamboanga Del Norte 1st District Engineering Office
Ebdane hopes that the reassignments of personnel particularly in the field level will pose new career challenge to them thereby resulting into a more effective and efficient delivery of quality public infrastructure services in the countryside. |
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08/09/07 |
SQUATTERS AFFECT COMPLETION OF KAMANAVA PROJECT |
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Recurrence of informal settlers, which were earlier provided with relocation sites by the government, hampers the smooth implementation of the KAMANAVA flood control project.
DPWH KAMANAVA Flood Control Project-Project Management Office (DPWH-KAMANAVA-PMO) Director Macariola Bartolo said that squatter returnees caused the delay implementation of the Catmon creek component of the project in Malabon.
Bartolo said there are about 500 families living in the area that have caused the delay in the commencement of work.
Inasmuch as the immediate improvement of Catmon creek has been deemed vital to the effective operation of the pumping station, DPWH Secretary Hermogenes E. Eddane, Jr. has requested the assistance of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) in re-clearing informal settlers to pave way for commencement of activities.
In year 2000, both banks of Catmon creek had been cleared of informal settlers by the DPWH and subject area was turned over to the concerned Local Government Unit (LGU) for safeguarding in consonance with the Memorandum of Agreement between the Department and LGU in 1999.
The Spine Pumping Station in Navotas, one (1) of the special facilities of the project was completed in August 2006, with no less than President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, DPWH Secretary Ebdane, and MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando spearheading the test run of said structure.
Equipped with four pumps each capable of pumping floodwater at the rate of 3.25 cubic meter per second, Spine Pumping Station is now being operated by the MMDA serving a drainage area of 173 hectares covering Lapu-lapu and Dagat-dagatan area.
Bartolo said that two (2) more pumping stations will be operational by September 2007 that include Bangkulasi Pumping Station which will serve an area of 75 hectares covering Bangkulasi at R-10 Navotas and Catmon Pumping Station covering an area of 355 hectares particularly C-4 up to Barangay Concepcion/Tenejeros River.
By December 2007, the North Navotas Pumping Station will be completed and will benefit an area of 475 hectares from C-4 up to Barangay Tangos Hulo while the Maypajo Pumping Station is slated for completion by March 2008 covering Paulino Street to Bukid Street up to C-3.
In the coming days, long periods of flooding will be reduced significantly with the completion of these vital structures and as the project attains the target 87% overall accomplishment by end of August 2007.
Other project implementation concerns such as presence of pole and waterline facilities owned by utility companies are being addressed accordingly in order for works in the Northern Catmon drainage facilities to move that entails the construction of drainage box culvert along Governor Pascual and Senciangco Street.
Contractor has also resume full blast works on polder dike component which was earlier slowed down because of allegations of defective design that was eventually proven baseless by the re-evaluation of DPWH-Bureau of Design as the dike design is sound and in accordance with DPWH and international standard.
DPWH-KAMANAVA-PMO said that entire P5.184 billion worth mega-flood control project in Northern Manila would be completed by September 2008, which is also the expiration of the loan agreement between the Government of the Philippines and Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) |
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08/08/07 |
DPWH TRAVEL ADVISORY
As of August 8, 2007 11:00am |
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ALL NATIONAL ROADS ARE PASSABLE
National Capital Region
- Maintenance crew are deployed to monitor road condition
Cordillera Administrative Region
- Maintenance crew and equipment are already deployed on critical areas to monitor road condition and respond to emergency road situation
Region 1
- Minor slides were removed along Santa, Ilocos Sur.
- Fallen Tress along Baroro-Guinabang Section in Bacnotan, La Union were already removed by the DPWH District Maintenance Office.
- Maintenance Crew are on stand-by on critical areas to monitor road condition and respond to emergency road situation
Region 2
- No rains in the region except for Batanes Area. Maintenance crew and equipment are on round the clock stand by.
Region 3
- Maintenance crew and equipment are already deployed on critical areas to monitor road condition and respond to emergency road situation
Region 4-A
- Maintenance crew and equipment are already deployed on critical areas to monitor road condition and respond to emergency road situation |
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08/02/07 |
DPWH CONSULTATIVE MEETING ON BILLBOARD REGULATION |
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 Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane, Jr. (top left) dialogues with the billboards owners, advertisers, local building officials and DPWH NCR district engineers during the Consultative meeting on signs and billboard structures regarding the strict enforcement of the National Building Code. With Secretary Ebdane are (left to right) DPWH National Building Code Director Emmanuel Cuntapay, Atty. Santiago T. Gabionza, Assistant Secretaries Ramon Aquino and Rafael C. Yabut and DPWH-NCR Director Josefino N. Rigor. |
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