The Department of Public Works and Highways – Southern Leyte District Engineering Office (DPWH-SLDEO) will carry out P2.2 Billion worth of projects for the year 2018.
DPWH-SLDEO District Engineer Ma. Margarita Junia said this year’s infrastructure budget is P500 million higher than 2017 budget worth P1.7 Billion.
“Our 89 projects for this year will cover widening of major roads, building new bridges and a diversion road, as well as construction of slope protection structures within the primary and secondary highways,” Junia said.
It will also focus on replacement of aging bridges as well as widening from two lanes to four lanes to complement the massive road widening projects in Southern Leyte over the past years.
Among the priority projects of DPWH-SLDEO is the construction of a concrete bridge that will link the towns of San Ricardo and Liloan. Once completed, the bridge is expected to unlock the tourism potential of the southernmost villages of the province.
Improving accessibility to key ports and other production areas as well as building and upgrading local access roads to various economic zones and tourism destinations is also included in the allocation.
“We were able to bid out already more than 50 percent of the 89 projects under 2018 outlay. We are waiting for the approval of some proposed modifications for projects under the regular infrastructure program and as soon as funds are released, we will immediately award the projects,” noted Junia.
Aside from the road and bridge projects, DPWH-SLDEO will construct 115 academic, secondary and senior high school buildings amounting to P1.2 billion under the Basic Education Facilities Fund (BEFF) of the Department of Education (DepEd).
These projects are on top of the 299 kilometers of national roads and 155 bridges that are being maintained by the DPWH-SLDEO within 18 towns and one city.