Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Acting Secretary Roger G. Mercado went to Davao City for the continuing leg of his visits to implementing offices of the Department nationwide.
The DPWH Chief together with Undersecretary and Chief Implementer of Build, Build, Build Program Emil K. Sadain, and Undersecretary Eugenio R. Pipo Jr. and Assistant Secretary Ador G. Canlas of Regional Operations in Mindanao were welcomed by Region 11 Director Rey Peter B. Gille, Assistant Regional Director Arturo P. Longyapon, the District Engineers from the eight (8) District Engineering Offices, Division Heads, and their staff.
In his message delivered before the officials and employees of DPWH Region 11, Secretary Mercado lauded the very good performance of DPWH Davao Region specifically in meeting the Department’s October 2021 target absorptive capacity of 96 percent.
“I hope that you will be able to sustain the efficiency in the utilization of budgetary resources/appropriations made in the national budget”, Secretary Mercado said.
Secretary Mercado also led the ceremonial inauguration of the new administrative building of DPWH Davao Del Norte District Engineering Office in Tagum City.
“This modernize office building will enable DPWH Davao Del Norte District Engineering Office to deliver better service to the public and make sure that our colleagues are given the comfort that they rightfully deserve in the discharge of their responsibilities”, added Secretary Mercado.
An inspection was also conducted at the substantially completed four-lane 18-kilometer Davao City Coastal Bypass Road Project to ascertain the progress of this high impact project expected to reduce the travel time from Junction Davao-Cotabato Road (Bago Gallera Section) to R. Castillo Avenue (downtown area) and vice versa by 30 minutes, benefiting at least 10,000 travelers per day.
The inspection group also checked the alignment over Pakiputan Strait of the proposed Samal Island to Davao City Connector (SIDC) Project to be implemented by Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Operations headed by Undersecretary Sadain.