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Region V - News Archive 2007
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12/12/07 |
DPWH COMPLETES REPAIR AND CLEARING OPERATIONS ON TYPHOON
AFFECTED ROADS IN BICOL REGION |
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 Motorists going in and out of Bicol region are now assured of continuous flow of traffic as the Department of Public Works and Highways reported the completion of the repair and clearing operations on typhoon affected roads in Bicol Region.
DPWH Region V Director Orlando Roces said that among the impassable major roads that were affected by typhoons ‘Lando’ and ‘Mina’ are the Maligaya-Garchitorena Road Section, Pili Bridge-Maligaya Road Section, Presentacion-Maligaya Junction, Laganoy- San Vicente Road in Camarines Sur and Bladoc-Pandan Section, Virac-Bato-San Miguel-Viga-Bagamanoc Section and Caramoan-San Andres-Virac Section along Catanduanes Circumferential Road and Junction Bato-Baras-Gigmoto- Viga Road both in Catanduanes Province are now clear from obstructions and passable to all types of vehicles.
“Immediately after the rain subsided we have conducted clearing and repair operations on all the affected roads sections to assure that all roads will be made passable for the rescue and relief operations” Roces added.
A total of two payloaders, two graders, 3 dump trucks integrated form the provincial engineering offices were deployed by the DPWH to assist in the clearing and repair operations.
In Catanduanes, motorists taking the Catanduanes Circumferential Road specifically in Bato Section are advised to take precautions in some sections because of the occurrence of minor rockslides.
Meanwhile, the DPWH Region IV-A Office will start the reconstruction of the collapsed of 50 year old Tanggoy Arch Culvert along Balayan-Balibago Road in Batangas.
DPWH Batangas 1st District Engineer Rosauro Adapon reported that the reconstruction activities will start immediately after the completion of the on-going construction of a footbridge to be used by pedestrians.
Adapon also said that the district office personnel and its contractor will work double time to meet the scheduled completion of the said culvert which is scheduled to be completed in a month’s time.
Meantime, motorists are advised coming from Manila going to Calatagan via Tagaytay to use Nasugbu-Lian Road to use as an alternate route. |
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11/13/07 |
DPWH COMPLETES 177 NEW SCHOOLBUILDINGS IN BICOL REGION |
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 In support with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s thrust to improve the country’s education system by decreasing the number of classroom shortage in our country, the Department of Public Works and Highways reported the completion of 177 schoolbuidlings in Bicol Region.
In his report to DPWH Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr., DPWH Region V Director Orlando Roces said that the programmed schoolbuilding projects in their area are now being completed on schedule.
During the DPWH-DepEd Schoolbuilding Coordination Meeting held at Legazpi City, Roces said that the programmed School Building projects for CY 2006 is now 99.99% complete while the programmed projects for 2007 is already 47.63% complete with the recent fund release of Batch 3 of the DepEd school building projects.
Meanwhile, DPWH Undersecretary Bashir Rasuman, in charge of DPWH implemented school building program, commended the DPWH Region 5 Office for their good performance.
“We were able to accomplish much of the scheduled works because of the close coordination between the DepEd School Division Heads and recipient school heads” Roces said.
Meanwhile Roces also requested the DepEd Division Heads to submit the scope of work of all DepEd implemented schoolbuilding repair projects under the Calamity Assistance Rehabilitation Effort (CARE) Projects of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
“ Based on the directive of Bicol CARE Commisison, as the main engineering agency of the country, to assure quality of work, we are strictly monitoring the DepEd implemented school building repairs in the region” Roces added. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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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08/22/07 |
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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07/31/07 |
TRAVEL ADVISORY |
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Mt. Bulusan in the Province of Sorsogon has a phreatic explosion ash ejection of 6 kilometers height directing towards west-north-west affecting Juban, Sorsogon and its neighboring municipalities at 9:37 in the morning of Tuesday, July 31, 2007.
DPWH Region 5 Director Orlando Roces alerted the District Engineering Offices in the first and second congressional districts in the province of Sorsogon. Respective disaster teams were mobilized to monitor and undertake necessary actions.
As of 11:00 this morning, the Abuyog-Casiguran-Juban-Irosin Section of the Manila South Road was impassable due to ash fall but was immediately cleared by DPWH maintenance crew and “Kalsada Natin, Alagaan Natin” road maintenance workers. In case of closure of MSR, traveling public is advised to take the following alternate routes: Abuyog-Gubat-Barcelona-Bulusan-Irosin and Casiguran-Juban-Magallanes-Bulan Matnog Roads. |
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07/11/07 |
ROLANDO ANDAYA HIGHWAY NEARS COMPLETION- DPWH |
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 Considering that it is the fastest route going in and out of Bicol Rgeion, the Department of Public Works and Highways announced the near completion of the rehabilitation of Rolando Andaya Highway in Camarines Sur.
In his report to DPWH Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr., DPWH Region 5 Director Orlando Roces said that to date the rehabilitation project is already 69.09% complete, ahead of 5.15% compared to its programmed accomplishment rating.
“ We have able to accomplish much of the scheduled works because of strict project monitoring and prevailing good weather condition” Roces said.
Roces also said that the project is expected to be completed before the start of Peñafrancia Festival on September 2007 in Naga City.
The project includes the rehabilitation and reblocking of 25.98 kilometers of road with slope protection and drainage works in some road sections.
The Rolando Andaya Highway was formerly part of the Manila South Road (Quirino highway), a diversion road that passes through the province of Camarines Norte. This route lessens the traveling time of motorists by more or less that three hours compared in taking the Daet-Camarines Norte Route.
Knowing its importance, a total of P 510 Million has been released by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to the DPWH for the rehabilitation of 20 identified road sections in Andaya Highway.
“ We know the importance of this road, especially among the truck owners whom are affected of the re-routing scheme, that’s why we are fast tracking the implementation of the project” Roces added. |
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07/09/07 |
DPWH ACCELERATES C.A.R.E PROJECTS IN BICOL REGION |
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 The Department of Public Works and Highways reports the acceleration of various on-going Calamity Assistance Rehabilitation Effort (CARE) Projects in Bicol Region in compliance to the directive of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to prevent further damage to infrastructure due to the reported strong typhoons expected to hit the country this year.
CARE projects assigned to DPWH include the repair and reconstruction of national roads, flood control structures and seawalls, damaged by typhoons Milienyo, Reming and Senyang that hit the provinces of Albay, Camarines Norte and Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate and Sorsogon last year.
In his report to DPWH Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr, DPWH Region 5 Director Orlando Roces reported that out of the total 219 CARE Projects, 37 are on-going while 182 are on pre-construction phase.
“Overall accomplishment to date is 25.39%. The minimal accomplishment is attributed to the public works ban during the recent election period. However, while waiting for the lapse of the election ban period, we have perfected all the required pre-construction activities, and now, we are ready to undertake the actual implementation of these projects,” added Roces.
To assure its immediate completion, Ebdane instructed all the DPWH field engineers to continue on with the good progress of work and take advantage of the good weather condition. “We should be ready to deal with another disaster,” Ebdane reiterated.
With the P 1.325 Billion fund released by President Arroyo last April, formal bidding of the projects started last May 28 and still on-going.
Roces added that if the good weather will continue the repair and reconstruction works will be completed within 2 to 3 months while replacement works will be completed within 6 months
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“We are constantly coordinating with National Disaster Coordinating Council and respective local government to assure the effective implementation of the projects” said Roces. |
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06/20/07 |
DPWH COMPLETES 22 NEW INFRASTRUCTURE AND REHABILITATION PROJECTS IN MASBATE |
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In support of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s infrastructure development program to attract investment and provide employment opportunities especially in rural areas, the Department of Public Works and Highways reported the completion of P 20.5 Million worth of infrastructure projects in Masbate City.
DPWH OIC-Secretary Manuel Bonoan said that considering that Masbate City is one of the major drop off points in the Roll-on-Roll-off (RoRo) System or Nautical Highway, which was developed by President Arroyo to speed up the delivery of goods, people and services from Mindanao, Visayas and Luzon and vice versa, he had directed the immediate completion of road rehabilitation and new construction in Masbate City.
“ We have instructed the regional office to strictly monitor the implementation of these vital road construction and rehabilitation projects to assure its immediate completion” Bonoan said.
DPWH Regiopn 5 Director Orlando Roces said that the project includes the P10 Million Circumferential Roads in Masbate City, two-school building projects and a multi purpose hall.
The newly completed circumferential road is one of the considered high-impact projects in Bicol Region because it does not only decongest traffic in Masbate City but it also promotes eco-tourism industry in the area which will provide employment opportunities among the residents in the community.
Meanwhile, DPWH Masbate District Engineer Paquito Mahinay also reported that they wrote President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for the permanent designation of OIC-Secretary Manuel Bonoan as permanent secretary of the DPWH.
Signed by all the officials and rank-and-file employees of the Masbate Engineering District, they commended OIC-Sec. Bonoan’s leadership skills and rich experience and expertise in the field of engineering proven by 40 years of experience in serving the DPWH. |
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06/07/07 |
DPWH SPEEDS UPS IMPLEMENTATION OF ROAD RAHABILITATION AND FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS IN BICOL |
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“ We cannot fight nature, but we can prevent another disaster to occur”
Assuring public safety, and preventing further damage brought by concessive typhoons that devastated the Bicol region last year, the Department of Public Works and Highways are now fast tracking the implementation of all rehabilitation works and flood control projects in the region.
During his on site inspection, DPWH OIC- Secretary Manuel Bonoan instructed the DPWH regional director and district engineers to take advantage of the remaining summer weeks and accomplish much of the rehabilitation works and flood control projects in Bicol region.
“ If you could work 24 hours, do it, we must assure the protection of the major lifeline road network that connects the Bicol Region to the other provinces in Luzon” Bonoan said.
Bonoan added that by protecting the existing road network and other public infrastructure facility in the region we can prevent the draining of government financial resources.
“ Imagine that instead of allocating funds for repairing damaged roads, bridges and other infrastructures, we can allocate this funds to new expressways and new road network to far-flung areas, that’s why we must put all our efforts to prevent massive infrastructure damaged during the La Niña season.
We must also not to forget to thank President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, because of the existing economic fiscal reforms the DPWH has able to obtain a bigger budget for the implementation of vital infrastructure projects.
Meanwhile, DPWH Region 5 Director Orlando Roces reported that from the initial release of P 1.285 Billion rehabilitation fund last April 2007, all the projects under the Calamity Assistance Rehabilitation Effort (CARE) Funded Projects are scheduled for bidding within the month and are expected to be completed within three to four months.
Project under the CARE program includes the rehabilitation and repair of national roads, bridges, and vital flood control structures.
In Albay Province alone, under the calamity fund the DPWH has already completed the repair of all national roads especially Daang Maharlika Highway which is considered as one of the main road network in the province.
“We have now completed for about 83.11% of all rehabilitation projects under the CY 2006 budget that were realigned to repair and restoration works, we are expected to complete all of this within two months” Roces added. |
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05/09/07 |
DPWH COMPLETES TWO FARM TO MARKET ROADS IN ALBAY |
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Fighting poverty and in support with President Gloria Magapagal Arroyo’s Hunger Mitigation Program, the Department of Public Works and Highways has announced the completion of Ubaliw-Tulatula and Agos-Sta Cruz farm-to-market roads in Albay Province.
In his report to DPWH OIC-Secretary Manuel Bonoan, DPWH Region 5 Director Orlando Roces said that considering that Albay is one of the highly agricultural areas in Bicol Region, they are now strictly monitoring the implementation of the other farm-to-market roads in the province.
“ These farm-to-market roads will not only speed up the delivery of agricultural products in the market areas but it will also prevent the spoilage of produce as they serve as access roads from the farms going to the food storage facilities in the area” Roces said.
Located in Brgy. San Vicente, in Oas, the Ubaliw-Tulatula Road involves the concreting of 185.40 lineal meters of existing gravel road costing P 2.5 Million, while the Agos-Sta. Cruz Road, located in Polangui, involves the concreting of 665 lineal meters of existing road with a total cost of P 2.5 Milion serving the farmers from the municipalities of Polangui and Libon in Albay.
In a recent staff meeting, Secretary Bonoan ordered the immediate completion of all vital infrastructure projects including farm-to-market roads nationwide. |
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