“These are the government’s achievements.”
There was a time when infrastructure projects were being undertaken by the government left and right – until the Aquino administration took over in 2010 when we hardly felt any infrastructure development.
But now, despite the limitations brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, the golden era of infrastructure development is still in full swing.
Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Roger Mercado said that the agency has exerted all efforts in Fiscal Year 2021, pushing the implementation of priority infrastructure projects to facilitate the rebound of the economy by providing 1.6 million jobs.
“With the threat of the pandemic still looming, DPWH still managed to attain numerous achievements in our mission to provide quality infrastructure to the Filipino people,” Mercado, who took over the post vacated by then Public works Secretary Mark Villar who opted to run for this year’s senatorial race, said.
From January to December 2021, the DPWH completed the construction, rehabilitation, and improvement of 4,097 kilometers of roads, 510 bridges, and 1,593 flood control structures that improved travel time, ensured the safety of motorists, and protected lives and properties.
DPWH has also facilitated the completion of 4,244 classrooms and 82 school workshop buildings, and other school facilities. It also completed 108 evacuation centers throughout the country.
With the government’s accomplishment in terms of public works, Mercado hails President Rodrigo Roa Duterte as the country’s “Infrastructure President” having completed from June 2016 to December 2021 the construction, rehabilitation, and improvement of 34,291 kilometers of roads; 6,656 bridges; and 13,224 flood control structures, although I still have to compare these figures with those of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the late former President Ferdinand Marcos, whose son and namesake is vying for this year’s presidential polls.
DPWH has also played a key role in the government’s fight against the coronavirus.
As of end of December 2021, DPWH has built 736 quarantine facilities with 28,195 beds for the treatment of infected individuals, 29 modular hospitals with 595 beds and 55 off-site dormitories for health workers with 1,444 beds.
With such achievements, Senior Undersecretary Rafael Yabut, in-charge of DPWH Regional Operations, said that DPWH is looking forward to conquering Fiscal Year 2022 filled with challenges, opportunities and victories.
With the humble desire to be of service and to lend a helping hand even in trying times, DPWH men and women have proven in the aftermath of a disaster like the Typhoon “Odette” on December 2021 and Taal Volcano eruption on January 2020 the willingness to face any risk in the name of fulfilling duties and serving the public, Yabut avers.
DPWH was at the forefront not only of disaster clearing but also of the rescue/evacuation and relief activities, braving strong winds and rains, to areas where people needed help the most.
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Congratulations to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation!
A year after Pagcor bankrolled its Multi-Purpose Evacuation Center projects in the typhoon-prone Bicol Region, the city of Legazpi in Albay and the town of Sagñay in Camarines Sur became the first project recipients to finally complete the construction of two-storey MPEC structures.
Pagcor, together with the city government of Legazpi and the municipal government of Sagñay, Camarines Sur inaugurated the evacuation centers in Brgy. Homapon (Legazpi City) on January 20 and Brgy. San Isidro (Sagñay) on January 21.
Each MPEC worth P50 million has provision for kitchen, toilet and shower rooms for male and female, lactating rooms for nursing mothers, and a spacious badminton-court type area that may be used for sports events, training and other purposes when these are not being used as evacuation facilities.
Pagcor President and COO Alfredo Lim, who graced the inauguration of both newly-built MPECs lauded the recipient LGUs for “completing the projects in record time.”
Lim explained that Pagcor committed to build sturdy evacuation centers that are stronger than the typhoons so that more families in calamity-prone areas would have a better, more comfortable, and more typhoon-resilient place to stay in times of disasters.
Pagcor Chairman and CEO Andrea Domingo also congratulated the local governments of Legazpi and Sagñay for their dedication to immediately finish the projects, in spite of the ongoing pandemic.
Aside from the inauguration of the MPECs in Legazpi City and Sagñay, Pagcor also led the groundbreaking of the two-storey evacuation center in Brgy.Tagongtong, Goa, Camarines Sur. Said facility also has P50 million funding from PAGCOR.
To date, the state-run gaming firm has already released a total of P1.635 billion for the construction of 67 MPECs in various parts of the country.
Actually, I bumped into Chairman Domingo yesterday at the launching for former Gloria Macapagal – Arroyo’s book, Deus Ex Machina but I forgot to extend her my congratulatory message in person. Hope she reads it here.
Congratulations ma’am!
