BARAS,PALO,Leyte– The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 8 has completed over 435 projects in the Eastern Visayas region that are seen to contribute to the overall advancement of its six provinces.
As part of the department’s goal to improve road connectivity, the DPWH 8 has constructed, improved, and rehabilitated 334.03 kilometers of national roads and 51 number of bridges amounting to P 5.448 Billion.
Also completed in Eastern Visayas are 62 flood control and drainage projects costing P 3.214 billion. These infrastructures that serve as the first line of defense against flooding will consequently help save millions of pesos to damage to properties, crops, and losses in lives, and economic investments and activities.
Other infrastructure projects that were accomplished are 393 water supply systems, national buildings, hospitals and health facilities, markets and slaughterhouses, and other public infrastructures worth P 4.473 billion.
Being the construction arm of the government, the DPWH 8 also implemented and completed several projects in coordination with other non-infrastructure agencies.
In line with this, a total of 57.200 kilometers of farm-to-market roads under the Department of Agrarian Reform budget consisting of P 1.302 billion was completed.
Also completed are 73 elementary and secondary school classroom projects costing P 197.508 million funded under the Department of Education.
Moreover, completed access road projects under DPWH-DOT Tourism Convergence Program (Tourism Road Infrastructure Project) totals to a length of 11.261 kilometers covering P 673.299 million project cost.
According to Regional Director Edgar B. Tabacon, the said completed infrastructures and 1,078 up for completion projects contribute to the 71.37 percent total accomplishment rate of DPWH R8 infra projects per 2023 year-end report.
Some of the multi-year big-ticket projects started last year include the Tacloban City Causeway, Tacloban- Palo Diversion Road, and the Samar Island Medical Center, among others.
Besides the construction of infrastructure projects, the DPWH 8 is also tasked to maintain over 919 bridges along with the 2,616 kilometers national roads in the region of Eastern Visayas.
(CRESSIDA PAULA G. DELMO-MANGAPORO,Information Officer II/PR)
