Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Southern Leyte District Engineer Ma. Margarita C. Junia confirmed that additional budget for infrastructure development in Southern Leyte increased to P1.8 billion from the proposed P1.7 billion this year owing to more projects added under the 2017 General Appropriations Act.
Among the additional projects to be bided out within first quarter of this year along with other major infrastructure projects are the P50 million to kick off the proposed P1.5 billion Maasin Coastal Bypass Road, additional PHP11 million for the ongoing construction of DPWH Southern Leyte building in Ibarra village, P5 million to finance the modification of off carriageway improvement along national road linking Sogod town and Maasin City, and P500,000 for the ongoing opening of San Ricardo-Liloan Circumferential Road.
The 2017 approved budget for DPWH Southern Leyte is P500 million higher than the P1.3 billion allocation last year.
Citing DPWH Southern Leyte’s performance in 2016, the department’s main office earlier approved the exemption of the district office to Department Order No. 156, series of 2016 that limits the authority of a district engineering office to approve program of works and budget for the contract of projects with cost not exceeding P50 million. This is four times less than the P200 million limit for the regional office.
These projects with approved special authority are P109.43 million slope protection along critical road sections in Sogod town, P100 million road opening and construction of bridges for San Ricardo-Liloan Circumferential Road, P179.95 million road widening and drainage system in various national road sections.
Also included are P115 million Boundary Southern Leyte-Maasin City-Macrohon road upgrading and P235.79 million road widening and drainage system in various national road sections in the province which are all scheduled for bidding next month.
DPWH Southern Leyte is tasked to maintain 298.93 kilometers of national roads and 153 bridges built in 18 towns and the provincial capital – Maasin City.