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In preparation for the coming school year, the Department of Public Works and Highways reported the completion of 2,488 new classrooms nationwide, under the Department of Education and DPWH School Building Program. Aside from the Regular School Building Program, DPWH Secretary Rogelio L. Singson also said that the Department has substantially completed the regular road maintenance work in preparation for the formal school opening. “In line with the government’s Oplan Balik Eskwela Program, to assure safety of pedestrians and motorists, we are now completing the repair of potholes and pedestrian lane repainting works along national roads near school sites” Singson said. Singson also added that the DPWH regional and district offices have also conducted line canal declogging and cleaning operation to avoid occurrence of flood and have also removed unsafe signages and billboards located within the school vicinities. To promote public health and sanitation safety, the Department has also completed the construction of 76 toilets inside the school vicinities nationwide. DPWH district engineering offices are now also in the process of identifying waterless school communities for the allocation and provision of rainwater collection facility to provide a potable water source.

05/31/11

CHINESE CONTRACTORS TO INVEST IN RP INFRASTRUCTURE

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Philippine government has opened the door to Chinese contractors especially in the promotion of projects involving the public private partnerships, project financing and joint venture development. Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio L. Singson said that a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation was sealed between China International Contractors Association (CHINCA) and Philippine Constructors Association (PCA), Inc. at the 2nd International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum held recently in Beijing, China. With Secretary Singson joined by Undersecretary Rafael C. Yabut and delegation of Filipino contractors under the umbrella organization of PCA led by its President Levy Espiritu, the reached historic agreement establishes the mechanism for closer cooperation between Chinese and Philippine contractors, build strong rapport and subsequent partnership in the future. Through this forum, Secretary Singson also told a gathering of Chinese and international contractors of major opportunities in Philippine transport infrastructure development, particularly for roads, airports, seaports and rail projects worth about U.S. $12 Billion. We invite you to consider these opportunities and other investment opportunities in the Philippines,” Singson told international forum participants organized by CHINCA. The Philippines under the President Benigno S. Aquino III administration’s has set in place reforms aimed at enhancing business procedures and improving the investment climate. We are instituting and continue to make significant changes to make the investment climate in the Philippines more investor friendly, less red-tape and corruption free, said Secretary Singson. Under the PPP program, the country is open to various modes of implementation in the construction of expressways or toll roads and schoolbuilding program. Among the key road projects open for investments are the 4.8 kilometer NAIA Expressway; 4 kilometer road linking Daang Hari Road to South Luzon Expressway; 13.4 kilometer road linking North Luzon and South Luzon Expressway; 43.6 kilometer Circumferential Road 6 or C-6 Flood Control Road Dike Expressway; 50 kilometer C-6 Expressway and Global Link; 27.5 kilometer Cavite-Laguna or CALA Expressway (Cavite Side); and 14.3 kilometer Cavite-Laguna or CALA Expressway (Laguna Side). Under the finance, design, build and transfer mode, the government also intends to build 10 to 20 thousand school classrooms nationwide.

05/27/11

BUENDIA FLYOVER REHABILITATION INSPECTED

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Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio L. Singson personally inspected the on-going rehabilitation of Buendia-Osmeña Flyover to assure that it will be completed on schedule. With Secretary Singson are Assistant Secretary Alfredo Tolentino and DPWH National Capital Region Reynaldo G. Tagudando.

05/27/11

MARCOS HIGHWAY INSPECTION

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During the field inspection, Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio L. Singson discusses with Mr. Giuseppe Mirabito, Project Manager of Renardet S.A., World Bank Project consultant for the Marcos Highway Improvement Project in Rizal Province the status and details of the project. With Secretary Singson are Assistant Secretary Alfredo G. Tolentino, National Roads Improvement and Management Phase II Project Director Carlos Mutuc and Component Manager Constante Llanes.

05/24/11

DPWH READIES FOR TYPHOON ‘CHEDENG’

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Designated Public Works and Highways Disaster Quick Response Teams are now deployed in the identified critical sections along national roads in Western Visayas, Bicol Region, Cagayan Valley Region and Northern Luzon in preparation of projected land fall of typhoon “Chedeng” on Wednesday. Under Department Order No. 38, Secretary Rogelio L. Singson directed the quick response team that starting today, the respective DPWH regional and district office to submit to his office copy furnished the Bureau of Maintenance situational reports on major/secondary national roads and bridges every six (6) hours during calamities to effect timely and expeditious response. According to the 5:00 AM weather bulletin from PAGASA today (May 24, 2011) storm warning signal No. 1 has been raised to Catanduanes and Sorsogon. Forecasted path of “Chedeng” is 330 km at the east of Catanduanes by Wednesday, 210 km at the east-southeast of Casiguran in Aurora by Thursday and 70 km north of Apparri, Cagayan by Friday. “ PAGASA has already warned that there is a possibility that typhoon Chedeng may brought heavier rains compared to typhoon Milenyo, that’s why we must double our efforts to assure the public safety and to assure immediate rescue and relief operation during calamity” Singson said. A DPWH Quick Response Team is composed of road maintenance crew including mechanics, equipment such as chainsaw and portable rechargeable lights for debris clearing operation, dump trucks and back hoe for landslide clearing operation and service vehicles for quick response on emergency road situations. According to DPWH Undersecretary for Regional Operations Romeo S. Momo the DPWH regional and district offices have already conducted the drainage declogging and vegetation control operation along national highways to prevent the occurrence of flood during the rainy season.

05/23/11

SINGSON INSPECTS P969.2 MILLION WORLD BANK ASSISTED PROJECT IN RIZAL

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Contrary to reports that the project is delayed, DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson personally inspected the on-going construction of Marcos Highway Improvement Project along Pasig, Marikina, Cainta and Antipolo in Rizal and it was found out that the project is ahead of schedule. “Actual accomplishment as of May 12, 2011 is already 50.12% complete, against the 48.15% scheduled accomplishment rating” Singson said. During his inspection on the on-going installation of reinforced concrete pipes along Balanti Creek towards Marikina River, Singson said that the general public must be advised to be more patient, and to look on the positive side of the project, not only the decongestion of traffic but especially in controlling the flood in the affected area during rainy season. “The contractor has even extended the workings hours up to 2:00 AM to finish the project ahead of schedule” Singson added. This P969.2 Million road improvement project is jointly funded by the Government of the Philippines and the World Bank under the National Road Improvement and Management Program- Phase II (NRIMP II). The project involves the widening of Marcos Highway from Evangelista Street to Masinag Section and installation of 1,027 pieces of pre-cast reinforced concrete pipes. Constant coordination with the Metro Manila Development Authority and the local traffic management units are also conducted to assure the uninterrupted flow of traffic. Motorists are also advised that counter flow traffic is now being implemented along Tayug St. and Doña Juana St. and from Imelda Ave and infront of Robinsons Metro East Mall as part of the traffic management plan approved by MMDA.

05/20/11

DPWH INTENSIFIES CONSTRUCTION OF RAIN WATER COLLECTION FACILITIES

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The Department of Public Works and Highways has allotted a total of P 38 Million for the construction of rainwater collection facilities in far flung barangays nationwide. Under the Republic Act No. 6716, the DPWH is tasked to construct rainwater collection facilities to provide adequate potable water supply in every barangay. Public Works Secretary Rogelio L. Singson said that the construction of these facilities is also part of the government’s climate change adaptation program by promoting water conservation to combat the diminishing fresh water supply due to over extraction of groundwater, water pollution, inefficient water infrastructure and the El Niño phenomenon. To assure the effectiveness of the implementation of the program, the DPWH has recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Interior and Local Government for the development of action plan to specify specific activities relative to the Rain Water Collection Systems (RWCS) for the local government units. The initial P38 Million fund will be distributed to 190 district engineering offices which will give priority on installing rainwater collection facilities in public school buildings that have no existing access to potable water facilities. Among the types of RWCS are the reinforced concrete ground storage tank that has a capacity of 8,000 liters of water, reinforced steel ground storage tank with 4,000 liters capacity, plastic container tank with 4,000 liters and the concrete stage storage tank with 60,000 liters capacity. Meanwhile, as of March 2011, the 68 DPWH engineering district offices and 3 regional offices have already installed a total of 96 rainwater collection facilities within their respective offices.

05/19/11

CEBU CITY GOVERNMENT LAUDS DPWH FOR ITS TRANSPARENCY AND GOOD GOVERNANCE

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Following the innovations adopted to assure the realization of its management philosophy of “right projects at the right cost with the right quality”, the Department of Public Works and Highways recently received an overflowing support from the Cebu City government for its transparency and good governance efforts. In a resolution passed by the Sanggunniang Panlungsod of the City of Cebu, DPWH Secretary Rogelio L. Singson is lauded for his transparency and transformation program being applied by all DPWH officials and employees nationwide to abide by President Aquino’s policy to fight corruption and eradicate poverty in the country. The Resolution cited the actions made by the DPWH in line with its transformation framework particularly the department’s partnership with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) by recognizing their importance as vital partners in the implementation of the government’s projects to sustain economic growth through poverty alleviation, which is the primary goal of the Aquino administration. The Sangguniang Panlungsod of Cebu City has called on all Civil Society Organizations to apply for accreditation from the DPWH through the Public Information Division to formalize their engagement as partners not only in procurement and project monitoring but in all stages of project development cycle including budgeting process. Earlier, Secretary Singson has issued Department Order No. 14, Series of 2011 to provide civil society organizations (CSOs) with partnership/observer status in all programs, activities, and projects (PAPs) of the Department. The order also created the CSO Partnership Committee, Technical Working Group and CSO Desk Office. The DPWH also implemented Department of Budget and Management - Budget Circular Memorandum No. 109 by signing a Budget Partnership Agreement (BPA) with “Bantay Lansangan,” an umbrella group of CSOs nationwide and DPWH current partner in project monitoring. Following the signing of the BPA, the DPWH in its effort to make its budget process more open and responsive conducted its first Civil Society Organization Budget Consultation for the FY 2012 Infrastructure Priorities and Strategies with representatives from the Civil Society Organizations, engineering schools, other concerned stakeholders and national government partners. Secretary Singson reiterated his call to CSOs and encourages them to participate in project identification, preparation, budgeting, procurement, implementation, operation, evaluation and other areas of mutual interest by simply sending the filled out application form that can be downloaded from the DPWH website (www.dpwh.gov.ph) together with the specified documentary requirements through the Public Information Division-CSO Desk Office.

05/18/11

DPWH CREATES OFFICE FOR MILLENIUM CHALLENGE GRANT PROJECT

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Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio L. Singson has created the Project Management Office for the Millennium Challenge Corporation (DPWH-PMO-MCC) to support the Millennium Challenge Account – Philippines (MCA-P) oversee the efficient and effective implementation of Samar Road Rehabilitation Project. A component of the Secondary National Road Development Project, Samar Road Rehabilitation Project is among the three (3) grant projects by the Millennium Challenge Corporation, a federal corporation of the United States, to help facilitate poverty reduction through economic growth in the Philippines. Construction and repair of the 220-kilometer Samar Road Project is prioritized in the Feasibility Study on Connecting Road Network under Secondary National Road Development Project and was undertaken as part of the transport infrastructure component for the Philippines’ Development Plan. Traversing some 15 municipalities and constitutes a critical connection to transport local agricultural products from Western and Eastern Samar, considered among the poorest provinces in the country, the road upgrading project will help alleviate poverty by linking rural areas to urban areas, improve the flow of goods to market as well as access to healthcare, education and employment opportunities for rural populations. The Wright‐Taft Road with approximate length of 79 kilometers from Pan-Philippine Highway junction in Buray, Wright, Samar traversing eastward along primarily rolling and mountainous terrain to the intersection with the north‐south corridor in Taft (km 890+000), and then south to the municipal boundary between Sulat and San Julian (km 906+500) is one component of the project and is located in the Provinces of Western Samar and Eastern Samar. The other component is the 143 kilometers San Julian‐Guiuan Road in the Province of Eastern Samar which begins at the municipal boundary between Sulat and San Julian (km 906+500) and ends in the town of Guiuan (km 1049+000). The Millennium Challenge Account – Philippines (MCA‐P) has been designated as the accountable entity for the implementation of projects that are funded under Compact Program by the Philippine Government as expressed by President Benigno S. Aquino III Aquino and US Secretary of State and Chair of the MCC Board Hillary Rodham Clinton signed by Secretary Cesar V. Purisima of the Department of Finance (DOF) and MCC Chief Executive Officer Daniel W. Yohannes on 23 September 2010. DPWH-PMO-MCC will be under the direct supervision of Secretary Singson in a concurrent capacity as member of MCA-P Board of Trustees through Undersecretary Rafael C. Yabut, in-charge of DPWH-PMO operations and designated point of contact/counterpart of MCC in the DOF and MCA-P. DPWH’s primary role will shift to supporting MCA-P in overseeing the implementation of the Samar Road Rehabilitation Project costing 214 million U.S. dollar under the Millennium Challenge Account assistance. Through the created DPWH-PMO-MCC, DPWH will provide staff resources composed of designated DPWH personnel reassigned on full time and part time basis including regional representative headed by the Regional Director and Regional Coordinator of Region 8 and supported by the Technical and Support Services of the Department to assist the MCA-P in the management and oversight of the project, with specific responsibilities that include providing technical expertise in the coordination of the project to MCA‐P, local government units and other project stakeholders. The office will also assist in the preparation of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, Resettlement Action Plan, among others, to ensure that the proper permits are granted and documents and plans adhere to the Philippine government requirements. Also, DPWH-PMO-MCC will take part in the technical selection panel for the consultants and contractors; assist in the preparation and review of reports regarding the finances and accounting, performance, monitoring and evaluation, procurements, budgets, and audit reports of the project and any other reports requested; construction monitoring of the civil works contract; provide advice and written recommendations on matters constituting decision‐making body actions; and coordinate and implement policies and procedures as may be necessary to facilitate the effective implementation of the compact. To date, MCA-Philippines is seeking the professional services of a project management and construction supervision firm to represent them and assume full responsibility for the overall management of the road project during implementation (from design review through construction, commissioning and the defects liability period, as necessary). Technical proposals of interested consultants will be open under supervision of Undersecretary Rosalia V. De Leon of the Department of Finance-International Finance Group precisely at 2:00 PM on June 16, 2011 at 5th Floor, IFG Conference, DOF Building, BSP Complex, Roxas Blvd, Manila.

05/17/11

DPWH COMPLETES P18 BILLION WORTH OF ROADS AND BRIDGES

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The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reported the completion of P18.919 Billion worth of roads and bridges nationwide in keeping step with the national development plan to accelerate infrastructure development supportive of the inclusive growth vision of the government. About 912.7 kilometers of national roads and 3,484.80 lineal meters of national bridges have been constructed, improved and rehabilitated by the DPWH as of end of April 2011. Secretary Rogelio L. Singson said that the completed infrastructure projects across the country give boost to the target of providing safe, reliable, and cost effective infrastructure for the people. DPWH has also completed a total of 262.70 lineal meters of bridges costing P291.88 Million under the President’s Bridge Program, linking the remotest and poorest communities with the national road network and highly urbanized centers and created an opportunity of spreading the fruits of economic progress to the greatest number of the populace. In preparation for the onslaught of the rainy season, a total of 316 flood control and drainage projects valued at P1.093 Billion were also completed. DPWH has also accomplished 2,242 other infrastructure projects worth P2.630 Billion consisting of water supply systems, school and national buildings, and hospital and health facilities. Under the budget of non-infrastructure agencies and implemented by DPWH, the Department has improved or built 22.219 kilometers of farm-to-market roads under the Department of Agrarian Reform budget and 398 projects consisting of elementary and secondary school buildings costing P242.545 Million funded by the Department of Education. Also completed are improvement and rehabilitation of 4,450 kilometers of roads and bridge costing P60.477 Million from the Department of Energy fund.

05/12/11

P 318.9 MILLION ANTIQUE BRIDGE NOW OPEN - DPWH

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Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio L. Singson announced recently that the newly completed Bugo Bridge along San Remigio Bugo Road, Antique is now open to traffic. The 430 lineal meter double-lane steel Bugo Bridge will enhance better trade and commerce with a much easier and safer transport of local agricultural goods and services to more than 10 barangays of Bagumbayan and Bugo in the hinterlands of San Remigio. Secretary Singson assured the Antiqueños that the bridge is among the bridges that passed the safety and quality standards of the department, complying with the Aquino administration’s thrust of doing the right project with the right cost and right quality. Under contract with Waagner-Biro Philippines, Inc., this Austrian modular steel bridge project has become a well-known trademark in the country in terms of reliable and high quality steel bridge construction which aims to improve the lives of many Filipinos especially in the calamity-stricken areas, adds Singson. The construction of the modern bridge costs P318.889 Million, a grant from the Government of Austria. Bugo bridge is located along Sibalom river in between barangay Bagumbayan and Bugo, San Remigio. Barangay Bugo is eight kilometers from the town proper and 29 kilometers from Antique’s capital town of San Jose. It is one of the identified priority bridges under the DPWH Bridge Construction Acceleration Project for Calamity Stricken Areas particularly in Panay island. The Bugo bridge rehabilitation project started on October 1, 2009 after it was severely damaged by Typhoon Frank on June 20, 2008 and was completed on March 31, 2011, one month ahead of schedule.

05/10/11

IRAP LAUNCHING

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Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio L. Singson together with World Bank Portfolio and Operations Manager Chiyo Kanda and International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) Regional Director for Asia Pacific Greg Smith unveil the “Multi-Surveyor vehicle” that will take photos of roads, categorize their design features, and measure their “roughness” during the recent launching of iRAP Philippines with the theme “Patungo sa Ligtas na Daan”. The iRAP project is part of the Philippines effort to reduce the risk of road accidents and deaths.

05/10/11

IRAP LAUNCHING

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Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio L. Singson together with World Bank Portfolio and Operations Manager Chiyo Kanda and International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) Regional Director for Asia Pacific Greg Smith prepares to conduct initial road safety tests along Commonwealth Avenue using ‘Multi-Surveyor vehicle” of the Government of Korea during the launching of International Road Assessment Program (iRAP) to make the Philippines free of high risk roads. The Multi-Surveyor vehicle is equipped with the latest digital technology and geo-referencing software which will be used in taking photos of the roads, categorizing the roads’ design features, and measuring the “roughness” of roads.

05/06/11

SINGSON LEADS KICK-OFF CEREMONY FOR PHILIPPINES’ NATIONAL ROAD ASSESSMENTS PROJECT

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Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio L. Singson today (May 6, 2010) led the launching of International Road Assessment Programme or iRAP Philippines with the theme “Patungo sa Ligtas na Daan”. With World Bank Miss Chiyo Kanda and iRAP Regional Director for Asia Pacific Greg Smith taking part in the project launching at the DPWH Regional Office 4-A Compound in EDSA, Quezon City, Philippines has joined the rest of the world in the worthy effort of reducing the risk of road accidents and even deaths in time for the global launch of Decade of Action for Road Safety on May 11, 2011. An international charity organization with a vision of a world free of high risk roads, iRAP will assist the DPWH in assessing the safety of some 3,000 kilometer of national highways considered “high risk roads” based on evaluation by the DPWH Traffic Accident and Recording System (TARAS). The project is funded by World Bank through its administration of the Global Road Safety Facility. Using a specially equipped vehicle, software and highly trained analysts, iRAP teams will undertake detailed road inspections at Commonwealth Avenue to kick-off the conduct of Philippine road assessment during the Philippine launch. Other national roads which will be subject of road assessment are Daang Maharlika (north and south Luzon), Daang Maharlika (Samar, Leyte), Manila North Road, Epifanio delos Santos Avenue, Radial Road 10, Quirino Highway (Balintawak to Caloocan), Circumferential Road 5, Marcos Highway (La Union), Jct. Bangag-Magapit Road (Cagayan), Olongapo-Bugallon Road, R-1 Aguinaldo Highway to Tagaytay City, Calapan South Road, Tagbilaran North Road, Palo-Carigara-Ormoc Road, Wright-Taft Road (Western and Eastern Samar), and San Julian-Guian Road (Eastern Samar). To ensure the effective and coordinated implementation of this project with the goal of promoting safer road infrastructure, DPWH is also supported by Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), Land Transportation Office (LTO), Philippine National Police, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP), and University of the Philippines-National Center for Transport Studies (UP-NCTS), and the Civil Society Organization “Road Watch” (Bantay Lansangan). Under the iRAP methodology, road safety star ratings will be assigned for car occupants, motorcyclists, pedestrians and motorcyclists to the roads; develop recommendations for high return investments in safety engineering; and provide training for local stakeholders in the project. iRAP’s Star Ratings, with five-star roads the safest and one-star roads the least safe, provide a simple and objective measure of the level of safety ‘built in’ to the road for vehicle occupants, motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians. The iRAP road safety Star Ratings will also help guide multi-million dollar upgrades to roads in Samar by the DPWH, and funded by the Millennium Challenge Corporation. These roads will improve access to markets and services for farmers, fishers, and businesses. Star Ratings are based on road inspection data collected through digital images and geo-referencing and analysis at 100 meter intervals, and recommend needed immediate actions to mitigate accidents. The detailed road inspection will focus on different design features known to influence the likelihood of crashes as well as their severity including intersection design, road cross-sections and markings, roadside hazards, and pedestrian lanes.

05/06/11

BRIDGE OPENING

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The P318.889 Million worth new Bugo Bridge in San Remigio, Antique, constructed through a grant to the Philippines from the Government of Austria, was formally open to vehicular traffic by DPWH Secretary Rogelio L. Singson together with Austrian Government representatives and local officials of Province of Antique. Completed one (1) month ahead of schedule, Bugo Bridge is one of the identified priority bridges under the DPWH Bridge Construction Acceleration Project for Calamity Stricken Areas particularly in Panay island severely damaged by Typhoon Frank on June 2008.

05/06/11

ANTIQUE BRIDGE

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DPWH Secretary Rogelio L. Singson together with other government officials led the ceremonial opening of Bugo Bridge in San Remigio, Antique. The 430 lineal meter bridge, constructed under the supervision of DPWH Region 6 and DPWH PMO-Special Bridges, will enhance better trade and commerce with a much easier and safer transport of local agricultural goods and services to more than 10 barangays of Bagumbayan and Bugo in the hinterlands of San Remigio.

05/06/11

BRIDGE PROGRESS

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Secretary Rogelio L. Singson checks the progress of work for the construction of Amerang Bridge in Maasin, Iloilo. With him are DPWH Undersecretary Rafael C. Yabut, and Region 6 Director Evelyn T. Barroso.

05/06/11

FLOOD CONTROL INSPECTION

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With the goal of ensuring safer environment through infrastructure facilities, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is pushing the full completion of Iloilo River Flood Control Project in Western Visayas. In photo conducting project inspection is DPWH Secretary Rogelio L. Singson together with Undersecretary Rafael C. Yabut, Assistant Secretary Emil K. Sadain, Region 6 Director Evelyn T. Barroso, and Project Directors Oscar Villanueva, Ramon Cacatian and Gil Villanueva.

05/06/11

PROJECT BRIEFING

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DPWH Region 6 Director Evelyn T. Barroso briefs Secretary Rogelio L. Singson on the various priority infrastructure projects of the Department in Western Visayas Region as Undersecretary for Project Management Office (PMO) operation Rafael C. Yabut and Assistant Regional Director Gloria Dindin looks on.

05/05/11

DPWH STARTS P46.67 M OSMEÑA FLYOVER REHABILITATION

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The Department of Public Works and Highways starts its initial phase of the Buendia/Osmeña flyover’s repair and rehabilitation along Osmeña South Superhighway, Makati City on Friday, 06 May 2011, 9:00 PM. DPWH Secretary Rogelio L. Singson said that the P46.67 Million worth flyover project is in compliance with President Benigno S. Aquino III’s goal of sustaining economic growth by providing safer basic infrastructure through proper maintenance and construction services. Singson also said that the contractor, Tokwing Construction, was given a span of four months to finish the flyovers’ structural safety works. Upon its completion, further damage to the bridge will be prevented providing more quality and safer structure especially during earthquakes. DPWH has mapped out a traffic re-routing plan to ensure that the flow of traffic will not be severely affected by the repair/rehabilitation works. The project will be implemented in two stages and will require the closure of one direction from the four-lane, two-direction from flyover while undergoing repair/rehabilitation works and allowing the other direction to remain open but on a two-lane, two-way traffic scheme. Some of the vehicles traversing Osmeña Highway will be diverted and required to use the AT-grade section of the highway (road beside the flyover) in crossing Buendia Ave. Southbound lane of the flyover shall, however, be opened to two-way traffic. Motorists can also use the AT-grade road section along Osmena Superhighway and are advised to take other routes such as EDSA (from Roxas Boulevard to Magallanes Interchange) and Roxas Boulevard (from P. Burgos St. / Luneta to EDSA). The project covers epoxy injection of cracks, repair of bridge deck superstructure by epoxy grouting of spalled concrete, and fiber reinforcement polymer (FRP) along with the reconstruction of railings, construction of median barriers and installation of electrical bridge lightings. Other flyover repair works also included are scraping or scarifying and removal of the existing asphalt pavement of the flyover, re-paving of the bridge deck with asphalt and replacement of the base and sub-base materials for the approaches.

05/04/11

DPWH URGES FILIPINO ARCHITECTS TO DESIGN SAFE AND RESILIENT STRUCTURES

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Amid the threat in the event an earthquake occurs in the country, Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio L. Singson has called on the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) to integrate their individual efforts in responding to the disaster risk reduction by designing safe and resilient structures. Speaking during the recent 37th annual UAP convention, Secretary Singson has reminded the architects that their responsibility as architects does not end with coming up with these magnificent and beautiful structures but to put premium on the safety and well-being of those who shall occupy these buildings and its environs for a lifetime. After witnessing the massive destruction brought by the natural catastrophes in Haiti, New Zealand, Japan, Myanmar, and now some parts of the Philippines, we should be more socially aware on disaster preparedness, Secretary Singson said. Secretary Singson further said that architects who are creators of every community’s skyline, can transform a locality into what they think would be the most suitable during these present times and for the years ahead. “When one looks around at every community, you can see the history of architecture by the way the buildings are designed. The works of architects also reflect the progress of every community’s skyline. The buildings that they design are not only structurally safe and strong, but, works of art as well,” he added. He then challenged the organization to participate actively in the review and formulation of the amended implementing rules and regulations of the building code with a longer time horizon since some designs and standards 20 years ago are now obsolete. Secretary Singson acknowledged the contribution of the UAP in the implementation of the national building code and their awareness of the various geological hazards in the country. He also stressed that DPWH fully supports the UAP members in dispensing with their responsibility as professional architects in the country.

05/03/11

ROAD ASSESSMENT IN PHILIPPINES GETS STARTED ON MAY 6

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Philippines joins the rest of the world in the worthy effort of reducing road accidents and even deaths with the launching on Friday, May 6, 2011 of iRAP Philippines at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional Office 4-A Compound in EDSA, Quezon City. DPWH Secretary Rogelio L. Singson together with World Bank Country Director Bert Hoffman and International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) Regional Director for Asia Pacific Greg Smith will lead the launching of iRAP Philippines with the theme “Patungo sa Ligtas na Daan”. The World Bank through its administration of the Global Road Safety Facility contracted the iRAP, an international charity organization with a vision of a world free of high risk roads, to assist the DPWH in assessing the safety of some 3,000 kilometer of national highways in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao considered “high risk roads” based on evaluation by the DPWH Traffic Accident and Recording System (TARAS). Using specially equipped vehicles, software and highly trained analysts, iRAP teams will undertake detailed road inspections at Commonwealth Avenue to kick-off the conduct of Philippine road assessment during the Philippine launch. To ensure the effective and coordinated implementation of this project with the goal of promoting safer road infrastructure, DPWH is also supported by Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), Land Transportation Office (LTO), Philippine National Police, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP), and University of the Philippines-National Center for Transport Studies (UP-NCTS), Asian Development Bank and Australian Government. Under the iRAP methodology, road safety star ratings will be assigned for vehicle occupants, motorcyclists, pedestrians and motorcyclists to the roads; develop recommendations for high return investments in safety engineering; and provide training for local stakeholders in the project. iRAP’s Star Ratings, with five-star roads the safest and one-star roads the least safe, provide a simple and objective measure of the level of safety ‘built in’ to the road for vehicle occupants, motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians. Star Ratings are based on road inspection data collected through digital images and geo-referencing and analysis at 100 meter intervals, and recommend needed immediate actions to mitigate accidents. The detailed road inspection will focus on different design features known to influence the likelihood of crashes as well as their severity including intersection design, road cross-sections and markings, roadside hazards, and pedestrian lanes.

05/03/11

TRAVEL ADVISORY

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With the go signal given by the MMDA to manage the traffic in the vicinity, the Department of Public Works and Highways – National Capital Region announces that the northbound lane of Buendia/Osmeña flyover along Osmeña South Superhighway, Makati City shall be CLOSED to traffic on Friday, 06 May 2011, 9:00 PM for repair and rehabilitation. Southbound lane of the flyover shall, however, be opened to two-way traffic. Motorists can also use the at-grade road section along Osmena superhighway. Motorists are advised to take other routes such as EDSA (from Roxas Boulevard to Magallanes Interchange) and Roxas Boulevard (from P. Burgos St. / Luneta to EDSA).

05/02/11

CONSTRUCTORS MEETING

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DPWH Secretary Rogelio L. Singson announces great opportunities for constructors to participate in government infrastructure projects during the recent general membership meeting of Philippine Constructors Association, Inc. (PCA) held in Pasig City. The 10 months of reforms under the President Benigno S. Aquino III administration resulted in transparency and competitive transaction in DPWH which now operates in daylight mode with a management principle of doing the right project, at the right cost, at the right quality.

05/ 02/11

SINGSON WOOED CONSTRUCTION GROUP TO PARTICIPATE IN GOVT. INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

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Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio L. Singson is pushing for wider participation of constructors in public biddings of projects in the district, region and national level. Speaking at the general membership meeting of Philippine Constructors Association, Inc. (PCA) in Pasig City, Singson said that the 10 months of reforms in the DPWH has open opportunities to transparency and speedy transactions in the Department. Operating in daylight mode, DPWH has simplified its bidding process from more than 20 documentary requirements to about five (5) documents and has made the bidding documents and all projects downloadable in the agency website www.dpwh.gov.ph. This reform in the bidding process removes the question of being disqualified for failure to submit one (1) timely page of document, said Singson. Singson also cited the result of his cancelling of 19 contracts under Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) funded Post Ondoy and Pepeng Short-Term Infrastructure Rehabilitation Project wherein after conducting open, competitive and transparent bidding of about P4 Billion worth, the government saved P1.5 Billion that can be utilize for new government projects. Moving forward, Singson said that the DPWH budget strategy is for the upgrading of quality and safety of arterial or primary road over secondary national roads, with focus on concreting and/or widening for those leading to designated tourism destinations, airports, RoRo ports and food production areas and/or economic zones. To solve traffic congestion particularly in urban areas, the DPWH will construct loading and unloading bays, ideally 5 meter wide and 20 meters long enough to cater buses. PCA also welcomes the DPWH program of outsourcing third party quality assurance inspection as part of the effort to raise quality standards of workmanship. Singson said that there is a need to fortify the present Quality Assurance Unit (QAU) in the Central Office which at present conducts project assessments on the quality of construction and compliance to plans and specification in selected number of projects to increase the coverage of quality assurance inspection.

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