Public Works and Highways Secretary Roger G. Mercado lauded the DPWH Regional Office 4-A and its District Engineering Offices for successfully implementing a total of 1,314 infrastructure projects in 2021 that have contributed to the economic recovery of the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon from COVID-19 pandemic.
“CALABARZON is the most populated region in the country, hence our infrastructure development here is focused on easing mobility especially going in and out of Metro Manila and I am glad to announce that in 2021, our DPWH Region 4-A was able to accomplish a lot of roads and other vital projects despite the pandemic,” said Secretary Mercado.
Citing a report from Senior Undersecretary Rafael C. Yabut, overall in-charge of Regional Operations and DPWH Region 4-A Director Jovel G. Mendoza, the DPWH Region 4-A was able to complete projects costing P7.17 Billion under its Road Infrastructure Program in 2021 including 19.2 kilometers of road construction, improvement, rehabilitation, and widening; 30.87 kilometers of road opening; and 92.32 kilometers of asphalt overlay.
Also completed last year were national bridge projects costing P670 Million involving 38 bridge construction projects with a total length of 186.95 meters, and 12 retrofitted bridges; 18 flood control projects composed of dikes, seawalls, river control, revetment river walls, and other drainage projects costing P7.15 Billion; and 378 other local public infrastructure projects amounting to P13.91 Billion.
The DPWH Region 4-A, in convergence with other government agencies and local government units, also accomplished 24 farm-to-market roads with a total length of 24.79 kilometers; five (5) school buildings with 42 classrooms; 23 tourism roads with combined length of 146.73 kilometers; five (5) evacuation centers; two (2) disaster related rehabilitation projects, and 13 COVID-19 related facilities.
According to Senior Undersecretary Yabut, the public will soon benefit from the completion of the Region’s high-impact projects which include: the Laguna-Quezon Connector or the Alaminos-San Pablo City By-Pass Road which is now 44 percent complete; the Batangas City-San Pascual-Bauan Diversion Road which is now 63 percent complete; Sariaya By-Pass Road which is 89 percent complete; Tagaytay By-Pass Road which is 58 percent complete; Lobo-Malabrigo-Laiya-San Juan Road which is 63 percent complete and Tayabas By-Pass Road which is now 90 percent complete.