JICA to assist PH on road disaster prevention

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The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has signed an agreement with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to commence a technical cooperation program on road disaster prevention and other countermeasures on mountainous roads.

DPWH will be assisted by Japanese experts in enhancing capabilities of DPWH engineers with the end in view of applying latest technologies in the Philippines to address road disasters on hazard-prone mountain areas.

Roger Mercado, DPWH secretary, and Takema Sakamot, JICA Philippines office chief representative, signed last May 18 the record of discussions to establish a mutual agreement for the detailed plan for the project to enhance capability on implementation of permanent countermeasure works for slope disaster, emergency response, hazard maps development, and road disaster information management based on road disaster information system.

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DPWH said it has been implementing different strategic infrastructure policies and programs which aim to ensure a safe and reliable national road system, through the rehabilitation/reconstruction of national roads with slips, slope collapse and landslides, to provide safe access to highly vulnerable areas; and rehabilitate, retrofit and strengthen existing bridges.

Mercado said this latest collaboration program is a new seal in the partnership of DPWH and JICA in building safe, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructures.

Appropriate road disaster countermeasures against landslides, debris flow and rock collapse are necessary due to the yearly occurrence of strong typhoons and earthquakes in the country which renders many roads unpassable.

With the willingness of Japanese experts to share their effective technologies on landslides and other road disaster mitigation, the DPWH engineers will be able to apply the best methodology in mitigating and preventing road catastrophes, said Mercado.

Prior to signing the record of discussions, DPWH held a series of discussions with JICA and other relevant organizations to develop a plan for the project.

The technical cooperation project has a three-year-and-a-half reckoned period, with the Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Visayas and Davao Region as pilot sites. – Myla Iglesias

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