OIC Assistant Regional Director Jose Al V. Fruto of the Department of Public Works of Highways (DPWH) presented the development initiatives and programs of DPWH Region 6 before the board members of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) during the latter’s Board Familiarization Visit in Iloilo City.
In his presentation, Fruto briefed the ADB group on the mandate of Department as well as other programs in convergence with other government agencies such as school buildings with the Department of Education (DepeD), roads leading to tourist destinations with the Department of Tourism (DOT), farm to market (FMR) road with the Department of Agriculture (DA), Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Projects (ARISP) with the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), construction and expansion of hospitals and health facilities with the Department of Health (DOH), roads leading to ports and seaports with the Department of Transportation (DOTr), and roads leading to industries with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
In addition, strategic programs and policies were highlighted such as the traffic decongestion program, integrated seamless transportation system, public-private partnership program, convergence and rural road development program, participatory governance and citizens’ engagement program among others.
Also presented were major significant high impact projects of DPWH from 2010-2016 namely the Iloilo Convention Center, Circumferential Road, upgrading of Iloilo Diversion Road, Esplanade projects and projects in the rural areas.
Funds for infrastructure development in the province and the city of Iloilo has steadily increased since 2013, and in 2014, Iloilo received 2.8 billion pesos that kick-started all the road widening programs and development initiatives.
Maps of ongoing projects showing almost all major road networks in Panay area were shown, as well as the newly opened bypass roads that will decongest traffic, boost economic activities and facilitate better land travel and hasten delivery goods and services within the province.
As DPWH embraced the Golden Age of Infrastructure, a short video presentation of the recently completed ADB funded projects was also presented.