Secretary's Corner
HON.
HERMOGENES EDEJER EBDANE, JR.
STONE AND STEEL BOOK LAUNCH
31 March 2008
We are glad
to welcome our distinguished guests, former Secretaries and
Undersecretaries of the Department of Public Works and Highways.
Thank you for
honoring us with your presence this morning as we formally launch
the first-ever DPWH Book Stone and Steel, the infrastructure
Program of Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
The idea for the book was born in
Subic, Zambales in August of 2007, during the first staff meeting I
presided over upon my return to the Department.
It had always
struck me in the past that we talked only about what projects were
being worked on but did not give as much importance to what projects
had already been completed.
And when we
looked at the portfolio of what had been done under the leadership
of President Arroyo, we had the inspiration for a visual directory
that would be proof positive of the substantial investment in public
works in the last seven years.
What we have
here today is the work not only of the President and the Department
of Public Works and Highways, but the result of a concerted effort
of local government executives, legislative officials and
responsible citizens’ organizations.
We are all in
agreement that our progress is dependent on the backbone of roads
and bridges that link our islands and our possibilities.
As we continue to build, we are
improving the odds of success and progress reaching the farthest
corners and islands.
Every
kilometer of road and every meter of bridge go a long long way
toward building our network to the future.
These are in
fact monuments of stone and steel that will ensure the future of our
children and the generations that will come after us.
It is my honor
to share with you the work of a people determined to make things
better.
This book
tells our story, and serves as a first salvo for the 110th
anniversary of the Department of Public Works and Highways.
The work
continues, and we remain committed to building the network of roads
and bridges that is the backbone of our country’s development
program.
Stone and
steel
is a testament
to how much can be done if we work together as one. We at the
DPWH are proud to be the stewards of our country’s monuments of
Stone and Steel, and now and in the years to come.
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