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In support with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s infrastructure investment plan to spur economic development especially in agricultural areas, the Department of Public Works and Highways announced the completion of 1,095 or P3.78 Billion worth of new infrastructure projects in Central Luzon before the year ends. DPWH Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr. said that Central Luzon is considered as one of the food basket regions of our country and has the potential for the development of more economic zones because of its strategic location nearing the business congested Metro Manila. “ This new infrastructure facilities will not only build the foundation for economic growth but will further improve the living condition in the area by providing employment opportunities” Ebdane added. DPWH Region III Director Alfredo Tolentino said that their office has topped the DPWH Bureau of Construction Project Implementation Ranking by completing a total of 999 projects as of September 30, 2007. “ We are able to accomplish much of the scheduled works because if the good weather condition and practicing strict project monitoring mechanism which were complied by our district offices” Tolentino said. Among the high impact projects that we are expecting to complete before the year end are the concreting of Nueva Ecija-Aurora Dingalan Port Road and the widening, concreting of Mc Arthur Highway Tarlac Section, replacement of Tiaong Bridge on Sto. Tomas, Pampanga, widening of Manila North Road-Meycauayan, Bulacan- Mabalacat, Pampanga Section, replacement of Labangan Bridge no. 7 in Calumpit Bulacan and improvement of Subic-Clark-Tarlac-Nueva Ecija-Aurora-Dingalan Port-Tarlac City- Sta. Rosa Road, Nueva Ecija Section.

10/30/07

DPWH CONDUCTS CLEARING and REPAIR WORKS ON HEAVY RAIN AFFECTED ROADS IN BICOL REGION

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To immediately make all roads passable and assure smooth flow of traffic on the expected influx of motorists going to their respective provinces to commemorate All Saints Day in Bicol Region, the Department of Public Works and Highways conducts immediate clearing and repair works on damaged road sections due to heavy rains that struck Bicol Region. Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr. said that he had already instructed the DPWH Region V Office to exalt all their efforts and if possible coordinate with DPWH contractors in the region to help them in the on-going slide clearing and repair operation on the damaged road section to assure that all national roads in Bicol will be made passable as soon as possible. “ We cannot fight the force of nature, we have to combine all our efforts and work with other national and local government agency to ensure the travel convenience of the public” Ebdane said. DPWH Region V Director Orlando Roces said that among the unpassable road sections are the Sangay-Tiwi Road due to massive slides, Presentacion-Maligaya-Caramoan in Camarines Sur due to massive slides, Junction- Bato- Baras- Road in Catanduanes due to series of slides, Catanduanes Circumferential Road due to rockslides, Virac- San Miguel- Viga Section also due to rockslides and San Andres-Caramoran-Pandan Road Section due to series of slides. Meanwhile as of 11:00pm last night the Legazpi-Tabacco-Tiwi Road Section was already passable to light vehicles while the Libon Pantao Road Section in Albay is now open to traffic after being cleared from series of landslides,. “ Our heavy equipment and maintenance crew are now conducting round the clock clearing and repair operations to make this affected roads passable as soon as possible” Roces said. Roces added that they also deploy heavy equipment and monitoring crew in critical areas especially in nearby community of Mt. Mayon and Mt. Bulusan to anticipate damaged brought by mudslide with the expected two tropical cyclone to entire the Philippines as warned by the PAGASA.

10/26/07

DPWH ALL SET FOR ALL SAINTS DAY

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Assuring smooth flow of traffic on the expected influx of motorists going to their respective provinces to commemorate All Saints Day, the Department of Public Works and Highways assured that all national roads are well maintained and free from any obstruction. DPWH Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr. said that since last week he had already instructed all regional directors and district engineers nationwide to conduct road maintenance works along national roads nationwide to ensure the continues flow of traffic. “ The DPWH Lakbay Alalay Program are now in set and ready to be implemented, it also includes road maintenance works such as pothole asphalt patching operation, road side vegetation control and drainage declogging operation” Ebdane added. The DPWH Lakbay Alalay Program involves the deployment of composite teams composed of DPWH personnel and mechanics who will respond to road emergency situation. These teams are complemented by DPWH equipment and service vehicles which can be utilized as tow trucks. In Cordillera Region, DPWH CAR Dir. Mariano Alquiza reported that due to heavy rains the Gonogon Section of Mt. Province - Kalanan Road and the Saltan Bridge Section along Calanan-Pinukpuk-Abbut Road was temporarily closed today due to landslide. “ Our heavy equipment and maintenance crew are now conducting clearing operation on the affected roads and we are expecting to make them passable this afternoon, we are also advising the motorists to take Naguillan Road and Marcos Highway in going to Baguio City because Kennon Road is prone to minor slides due to the bad weather condition” Alquiza said. In Central Luzon, DPWH Region 3 Director Alfredo Tolentino reported that the Brgy. Villa Aurora Section of the Nueva Ecija- Aurora Road was temporarily closed due to 2.5 meters deep flood, and added that their maintenance works along the Manila North Road was completed and passable to all types of vehicles. Meanwhile in CALABARZON Area, DPWH Region 4-A Director Bonifacio Seguit reported that the entire stretch of Manila South Road (Quirino Highway) and Andaya Highway (Quezon Side) are free from any obstruction and passable to all types of vehicles. “ Our Heavy equipment and maintenance crew are already deployed in critical areas to respond on emergency road situation” Seguit said.

10/25/07

DPWH’s DISMANTLING OF ILLEGAL BILLBOARDS IN MANILA STOPPED BY TRO

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The Department of Public Works and Highways campaign against illegal and unsafe billboards to assure public safety especially during rainy season was temporarily stopped by a Temporary Restraining Order (T.R.O) issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 36 in Manila. In her Order, dated October 23, 2007, Judge Emma S. Young the Outdoor Advertising Association of the Philippines (OAAP), Petitioner, and the Solicitor General are given a period of ten (10) days from the issuance of the order to file their simultaneous memoranda. The order was brought due to the motion of the OAAP for the issuance of a restraining order requesting the DPWH be restrained from demolishing structures built by OAAP in Manila on the ground that the DPWH violated due process. OAAP alleges that DPWH NBCDO Circulars No. 2 and 5, series of 2007 dated January 26,2007 signed by DPWH Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr. are not in accordance with the clear mandate of the provisions of the National Building Code. Secretary Ebdane said that DPWH “Oplan Baklas Billboard” was implemented based on the existing rules and regulations under the National Building Code to assure public safety and prevent any untoward incident brought by toppling of illegal and unsafe billboards especially during strong typhoons. DPWH National Building Code Development Office Director Emmanuel Cuntapay said that other Oplan Baklas Billboard Operation in Metro Manila and other regions will continue as per compliance with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s Administrative Orders No. 160 and 160-A. In National Capital Region, the DPWH Oplan Baklas Billboard has already dismantled a total of 3,890 illegal and unsafe billboards along national roads in Metro Manila.

10/24/07

DPWH SPEEDS UP P 793 MILLION PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IN LANAO DEL SUR

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Building roads and bridges in conflict areas in Mindanao to promote peace and achieve sustainable economic development, the Department of Public Works and Highways reported the fast track completion of Sultan Gumander - Dobliston Road in Lanao Del Sur. DPWH Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr. said that with strict monitoring and coordination with the contractor the project is now 74.76% complete, ahead of 12.17% compared to its scheduled accomplishement rating. This P 793.2 Million road project is included in the Second Mindanao Road Improvement Project under Contract Package C. “ This project is one of the priorities of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo because it will not only promote peace in the area but it will also improve the living condition and socio economic environment for the residents” Ebdane said. DPWH Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) Project Director Subair Diron said that they were able to accomplish much of the scheduled program of work because of the good weather condition and cooperation of the local government units during the implementation of the project. The project involves the construction / improvement of 26.89 kilometers of road, installation of reinforced concrete pipe culverts, rehabilitation of eleven existing bridges and one span extension of Liangan Bridge. This project was jointly funded by the KFAED and the Government of the Philippines and is expected to be completed on September 2008.

10/23/07

DPWH COMPLETES P914 MILLION JAPAN ASSISTED PROJECT IN SOUTHERN LEYTE

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Improving the existing road network to further develop economic activities in rural areas as well as attract foreign and local investments, the Department of Public Works and Highways reported the completion of Himayangan- Silago Road Project in Southern Leyte. DPWH Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr. said that the completion of these P 914 Million road project would paveway for economic development not only in Southern Leyte but the entire Eastern Visayas Region. “ This project is part of the Arterial Road Links Development Project which aims to improve the existing road network in rural areas to improve the living condition and create a sustainable economic environment by investing in infrastructure facilities” Ebdane said. DPWH Philippine Japan Highway Loan (PJHL) Project Director Vicente Perez said that the project covers 68 kilometers of entire road network which is composed of the construction of 44.7 kilometers of Portland Concrete Cement Pavement, replacement of 17 bridges, rehabilitation of existing three bridges, improvement of drainage system and construction of slope protection works. The project starts from the junction of the Pan-Philippine Highway in Himayangan, Municipality of Liloan, towards north easterly direction passing through the Municipalities of St. Bernard, San Juan, Anahawan, Hinunduyan, Hinunungan and ends at Silago. “ This project would increase the development of tourism and agricultural industry in the area which will provide employment opportunities among the localities,” Perez said. This road rehabilitation project was jointly funded by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation and Government of the Philippines and was completed last October 11, 2007.

10/19/07

DPWH CONDUCTS CLEARING OPERATION ON MT. BULUSAN AFFECTED ROADS

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Immediately after the mudflow occurrence around the villages of Mt. Bulusan in Irosin, Sorsogon, the Department of Public Works and Highways activated its disaster preparedness plan and conducted immediate clearing, and other rescue and relief operations. DPWH Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr. said that since Mt. Bulusan had shown warning that it may erupt last August 2007, he had already instructed the DPWH Region 5 Office to make ready of its disaster preparedness plan to assure public safety and minimize damage brought by this natural disaster. “ The DPWH Bicol Region has started to implement its Mt. Bulusan Watch Program last August 2007, which includes the deployment of heavy equipment on PAGASA identified critical areas to respond on emergency situation” Ebdane said. DPWH Region 5 Director Orlando Roces said that, yesterday (October 18, 2007) the two (2) deployed DPWH bulldozers and maintenance crew had started to construct earth dikes around Mt. Bulusan to protect a total of 276 affected families. “ We have also instructed our district engineering office to immediately conduct clearing operation on the affected road section along Daang Maharlika Highway in Irosin to assure that all national roads would be made passable as soon as possible” Roces said. Roces added that DPWH dump trucks were also integrated with Provincial Engineering Office equipment fleet of Sorsogon to conduct rescue and relief operation among the 1,596 affected individuals.

10/18/07

DPWH READIES FOR ALL SAINTS DAY

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Two weeks before the long vacation in the observance of All Saints’ Day, to assure safety of motorists, Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr. ordered all the regional directors to activate DPWH’s “Lakbay Alalay Program”. The DPWH Lakbay Alalay Program involves the deployment of composite teams composed of DPWH personnel and mechanics who will respond to road emergency situation. These teams are complemented by DPWH equipment and service vehicles which can be utilized as tow trucks. To ensure compliance to his directive, Secretary Ebdane instructed the regional directors and their respective district engineers to submit the list of assigned personnel as members of the composite teams including their contact numbers and the locations of “Lakbay Alalay” stations along the strategic national highways. The DPWH Lakbay Alalay program will take effect on 6:00 am of October 31, 2007 to 12:00 noon of November 4, 2007. “ To assure the continuous flow of traffic, I also instructed all our regional directors to ensure that all road sections leading to all cemeteries, both public and private are well-maintained and free from obstructions” Ebdane said. Ebdane also added that coordination with the Land Transportation Office, Philippine National Police and LGU’s should be made for the effective implementation of the program.

10/17/07

DPWH FAST TRACKS P80 MILLION INFRA PROJECTS IN BACOLOD CITY

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Building foundations for sustainable economic development especially in rural areas, the Department of Public Works and Highways reported the fast track implementation of P 80 Million worth of infrastructure projects in Bacolod City. Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr. said that the department is now prioritizing projects that aims to uplift the living conditions of residents in rural areas. “ We are putting all our efforts to drive economic development thru progressive public works especially in farflung areas” Ebdane added. DPWH Region VI Director Rolando Asis said that as to date 50% of the 25 major on-going projects in Bacolod City are already completed while the remaining projects are implemented as planned. In his report to Director Asis, DPWH Bacolod City OIC-District Engineer Norma Delonguines said that among the accelerated on-going projects are the repair and rehabilitation of the Bacolod Circumferential Road, P20 Million; widening of South-Kabankalan Road, P10 Million; Construction of certain portions of the Bacolod South-Kabankalan Road, P10 Million; and the widening and improvement of the Cabalagnan Bridge 1 in Brgy. Pahanocoy. P8.5 Million. Among the completed projects are the concreting of Alangilan Road, painting of the Bacolod Central Market, drainage and box culvert at Brgy. 12, Brgy Punta Taytay, construction and improvement of Brgy. 11 multi-purpose hall, concreting of Bacolod City- Granada boundary road, rehabilitation and widening of Banago Road, multi-purpose buildings at Rizal Elementary School and Medel Elementary School in Tangub.

10/15/07

REMOVE AND REPLACE WORKS

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Assuring quality of work, Department of Public Works and Highways CAR Director Mariano Alquiza personally supervises the remove and replace works on orders of DPWH Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr. along the Boga Section of the Halsema Highway, Phase II. Concreting works, done by the contractor on the said road section did not pass quality assurance test, which compels them to conduct replacement works without any expense from the government.

10/11/07

REHABILITATION OF ANDAYA HIGHWAY SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE- DPWH

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To assure smooth flow of traffic during the fast coming commemoration of All Saints Day, the Department of Public Works and Highways reported the near completion of the rehabilitation of Rolando Andaya Highway in Bicol Region. DPWH Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr. said that in his last field inspection he had instructed the DPWH Region V Office to maximize all efforts and take advantage of the good weather condition and accomplish much of the programmed works and assure that the rehabilitation works would be completed before November 1, 2007. “ The rehabilitation of the Andaya Highway is vital because this route is used by majority of the motorists because the travelling time is shorter by one to one and a half hours compared by taking the Manila South Road (Daang Maharlika Highway)” Ebdane added. Meanwhile, DPWH Region V Director Orlando Roces said that to date the project is more than 90% complete with some remaining concrete pouring activities to be done in some sections. “ In coordination with the contractor, we have implemented the remaining works in three shift basis to accomplish much of the remaining works, with the good weather condition we are positive to complete the rehabilitation of Andaya Highway before the end of October” Roces added. Divided into 20 identified road sections, this P 510 Million road rehabilitation project involves the improvement/rehabilitation of 25.9 kilometers of dilapidated road section out of the 60 kilometer stretch of the entire Andaya Highway.

10/10/07

P 750 M ROAD FOR PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT IN MINDANAO FAST TRACKED - DPWH

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Sustaining peace and development through massive infrastructure projects, the Department of Public Works and Highways reported the acceleration of the implementation of the Improvement/Rehabilitation of Basilan Circumferential Road in Western Mindanao. DPWH Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr. said that this road improvement project is included among the priority projects of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo because it aims to promote peace and development, especially in Basilan. “The completion of this project will improve the living condition and help alleviate poverty in the area and spur economic development, thus increasing the potential to achieve peace in war conflicted areas such as Basilan” Ebdane said. DPWH Region IX Director Pedro Herrera said that out of the programmed rehabilitation of 135 kilometers of existing road, 75 kilometers are already completed. “ To assure its immediate completion, we have divided the project into six (6) sections, namely, the Umayam Section, Abong-abong- Pali- Dikit Section, Canas-Cabcaban-Libug-benembengan Section, Lagayas Section, Camalig Section and Tumahubong Section” Herrera said. Herrera added that this project is under the P2.2 Billion roads projects in Mindanao which are jointly funded by the Saudi Fund for Development and Government of the Philippines.

10/08/07

ENFORCE ANTI-OVERLOADING LAW

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DPWH Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr. reiterated his call to strictly enforce RA 8794 or the Anti-Overloading Law during the recent 14th Road Engineering Association of the Philippines (REAP) Annual Convention held in Baguio City. In his keynote speech, Ebdane told the road engineers that one of the main causes of early deterioration of roads and bridges nationwide is the blatant disregard of the anti-overloading law. Also shown in photo are (seated frpm left to right) DPWH former Undersecretary and REAP & REAAA past President Salvador Pleyto, DPWH Assistant Secretary and REAP Vice President Rafael Yabut, DPWH CAR Director Mariano Alquiza and Assistant Regional Director Daniel Domingo.

10/03/07

REHABILITATION OF INFRASTRUCTURE IN ALBAY ON-GOING

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The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Bicol belied reports on the snail-paced rehabilitation of the Bicol region after the havoc wreaked by the series of typhoons late last year. DPWH Region 5 Regional Director Orlando Roces said that traces of the calamities are now almost non-existent in impassable road networks particularly in Albay due to volcanic debris and heavily damaged Tobgon Bridge in Batang, Ligao City and Travesia along Daang Maharlika in Guinobatan, Albay. Roces said the initial phase in the construction of permanent structures which is the re-channeling and earth-diking of the heavily silted gullies and river channels that constrict and define the flow of water towards Albay Gulf were already completed. As of press time, construction of flood control structures is underway along the stretch of Yawa River channel from Legazpi City to Malabog, Daraga, Albay which are scheduled for completion in three months time. Roces also added that replacement works are on-going in Tobgon Bridge connecting the first and second districts of Albay and is targeted for completion by January next year. Also, reconstruction of Travesia Bridge which was damaged after the passage of the Mercy Caravan on 13 December 2006, was completed before the start of Peñafrancia festivities in Naga City. Roces pointed out that the allotments for projects under the Calamity Assistance and Rehabilitation Effort (CARE) were released to DPWH only last 27 April 2007 but implementation was covered by the election ban on public works. The DPWH in Bicol had to wait after the election ban period to complete the bidding and awards process to finally commence project implementation. It will be recalled that out of the P1.32 Billion released under the CARE projects, P900 Million was allocated for the rehabilitation of highways, construction/repair of flood control and other structures in the province of Albay. Roces assures the public that the DPWH Regional Office 5 is doing everything to complete the infrastructure rehabilitation as expeditious as it can even if encountering delays due to the scarcity of steel sheet piles for boulder dikes which are not available locally. The regional office issued a memorandum to strictly caution contractors to comply with approved plans and specifications so that these CARE projects will be structurally sound to withstand calamities.

10/01/07

PAVEMENT WORKS IN FULL BLAST FOR PGMA SONA PROJECT

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The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has embarked on a massive concrete paving works at the Sta. Rosa-Fort Magsaysay Road in Nueva Ecija. DPWH Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane, Jr. said that the Sta. Rosa-Fort Magsaysay Road is part of the Tarlac-Nueva Ecija-Dingalan Port Road project under the Luzon Urban Beltway Super Region envisioned by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to spread development in the countryside. DPWH Region 3 Project Engineer William C. Bustos reported that pavement works for the Sta. Rosa-Fort Magsaysay Road, which was started in April 2007, is expected to be completed before the December 7, 2007 end of contract duration. The project has already posted more than 76 percent completion, which is more than 22 percent ahead of the projected work accomplishment. Costing P128 million, the project involves concrete reblocking, asphalt overlay, widening and upgrading, and construction of new portland concrete cement pavement with drainage and slope protection in the 10.76 kilometer road stretch. Although paving activities are affected by heavy rains usually in the afternoon, works are focused on construction of stone masonry wall and grouted riprap during moderate rain by the contractors Northern Builders and DMJ Construction who are teaming up to realize full completion with 70 more days remaining in their contract and works. The entire Tarlac-Nueva Ecija-Dingalan Port Road project covers roadway from Tarlac City-Sta. Rosa-Fort Magsaysay-Palayan City-Laur-Gabaldon-Dingalan Road which would speed up land travel between the provinces of Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, and Aurora.

10/01/07

EBDANE TO SPEAK BEFORE ROAD ENGINEERS' CONFAB

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Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane, Jr. will be the guest of honor and speaker during the 14th national convention of the Road Engineering Association of the Philippines (REAP) to be held on October 4 - 5, 2007 at the Pines View Hotel, Baguio City. With the theme, "Sustainable Road and Traffic Management and Development," REAP President, Engr. Jesus P. Cammayo said that the convention will also include technical sessions on road design, road construction, long-term performance base maintenance, quality control testing in road construction, traffic management, disaster risk management and highlights of RA 9184. Expected to attend the convention are road engineers from both the public and private sectors, constructors and consultants, said REAP 1st Vice President and Convention Chairman Engr. Rafael C. Yabut. Yabut also said that Baguio City Congressman Mauricio Domogan and Mayor Reinaldo Bautista, Jr. are expected to attend the convention. REAP is a member of Road Engineering Association of Asia and Australasia (REAAA), an organization aimed at meeting the needs of members for professional and organizational understanding and cooperation both within and beyond the region. After the technical sessions, the REAP members will also conduct its annual election of new set of officers for year 2007-2008.

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