The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has completed over 970 infrastructure projects in the National Capital Region (NCR) and Western Visayas in 2021.
In a statement, Nomer Abel Canlas, DPWH NCR director, said a total of 394 projects were completed in the National Capital Region last year, achieving an overall absorptive capacity of 94.89 percent after spending a total of P44.3 billion. This is better than the prior year disbursement rate of 83.13 percent for disbursing P46.6 billion.
“2021 is a year of many milestones for the DPWH-NCR. We were able to implement vital infrastructure projects and programs that are responsive to the special needs of the region with the biggest population,” said Canlas.
Among DPWH-NCR’s accomplishments in 2021 are the dredging operations along Pasig-Marikina River near SM Marikina, Barangay. Olandes, Marikina City; bike lanes on Roxas boulevard, Osmeña highway, Kalayaan avenue, Shaw boulevard, Araneta avenue, radial road 8, Epifanio delos Santos avenue, circumferential road 5; bridge across Parañaque River adjacent to Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange; 87 percent of Fort Bonifacio-Nichols Field Road (Lawton avenue); quarantine facilities in Las Piñas, Malacañan Park; Pasig Modular Hospital Zapote River Drive; Mandaluyong City Jail; Department of Environment and Natural Resources Multi-Purpose Building; Marikina River Restoration Project; and Assistance to Support Youth and Unemployed for Development and Advancement program which employed 917 people.
On right-of-way acquisition, NCR reported a 96.88 percent accomplishment on the North Luzon Expressway-South Luzon Expressway Connector Road project with 690 families relocated, 81 families given housing/financial assistance, and 873 provided with replacement cost; while 182 families were relocated and seven families were given financial assistance for the Mindanao Avenue project.
To ensure timely completion of its 1,692 projects under the 2022 General Appropriation Act, DPWH-NCR said it has commenced the process of detailed engineering design and pre-construction activities.
In Western Visayas, DPWH said a total of 582 infrastructure projects were completed in 2021 which now benefit about eight million Filipinos.
Roger Mercado, DPWH secretary, said this is a remarkable achievement considering the challenges brought upon by the pandemic in the construction sector and the onslaught of Typhoon Odette last year.
Mercado added the region received a budget allocation of P38.83 billion for 2021 to fund a total of 1,523 projects.
“With 918 infrastructure projects underway and 23 more in the pipeline, we hope to catalyze further economic development in Western Visayas and contribute to its progress as one of the fastest growing regions of the Philippines,” he said.
Among these projects is 8.73 kilometers of the 21.64-km. Boracay Circumferential Road opened in December 2021 that improved almost half of the entire stretch of the road and provided both locals and tourists faster access to various destinations in the famous island.
Another high-impact infrastructure completed and inaugurated for public use last year is the 770-lineal meter Kalibo Bridge III in Aklan, which costs P473.5 million to complete and is considered as the longest concrete bridge in Western Visayas.
Aside from strengthening Western Visayas’ road network by implementing road projects and constructing bridges, DPWH said it has also prioritized the expansion of the region’s capability to prevent inundation of the more than 270 rivers in the area.
