Pagadian City, Feb. 9 (PIA) – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) IX has continued its share of infrastructure development that would spur and support President Benigno S. Aquino III administration’s program for peace and economic development in Zamboanga Peninsula Region.
In his report to Secretary Rogelio Singson, DPWH-9 Regional Director Jorge Sebastian said that his office completed 353 various infrastructure projects with 59 projects on-going for current and carry-over projects posting an overall accomplishment of 72. 43% for the overall programmed amount of P3.75 billion allocated for the region.
Sebastian said that pre-construction activities are on-going for 20 projects released at the end of 2011 under the lump sum allocation. “The regional office had been working doubly hard in the implementation of these projects.
Among those completed are roads and bridges, school buildings, water systems, multi-purpose buildings, farm to market roads, flood control and drainage systems projects, constructed in various parts of the region,” said Sebastian.
He added, among those reported completed projects are the intermittent sections of Siocon-Sirawai road costing P39.61 million; a section of the Pagadian-Zamboanga City road costing P30.4 million; asphalt overlay of Imelda section of Lanao-Pagadian-Zamboanga City road costing P30.41 million; and rehabilitation of the damaged portion of Liloy-Ipil road costing P33.9 million.
In 2011, Region IX also helped improve the quality of life of the disadvantage individuals by hiring 76 workers indentified from the 4P’s beneficiaries for the DPWH roadside maintenance projects aim to contribute in poverty alleviation of the government. Also completed ahead of schedule without compromising quality, is the Rizal Memorial State University sports Complex (JRMSU) in Dapitan City, which was the venue of the successful 2011 Palarong Pambansa.
DPWH IX was also tasked to assist in project implementation for the Investment Support Program of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) to prompt the economic development of the region. “The year 2011 was a tough and challenging year for us but collaborative efforts of our officials and employees in the regional office including the district offices rendered productive output making DPWH Region IX ranked 3rd for current and carryover projects and 4th over-all in the annual year-end award for the 16 regional offices nationwide,” Sebastian added. (DPWH/PIA-9/CAL).