NSSDEO, Brgy. Burabud, Laoang, Northern Samar– Some local media practitioners of Northern Samar has conducted a media forum with the top management of Department of Public Works and Highways-Northern Samar Second District Engineering Office (DPWH-NSSDEO) held on June 11, 2024, at the NSSDEO Conference Room, Barangay Burabud, Laoang, Northern Samar.
This undertaking was spearheaded by District Engineer Charlito S. Carlobos and Assistant District Engineer Atty. Arthur Eric L. Sabong assisted by the NSSDEO-Public Information Unit.
Also attended were Chief of Construction Section, Engineer Gil D. Herrera Jr., Acting Chief of Planning and Design Section, Engineer Fiona A. Anunciado, Chief of Maintenance Section, Engineer Francisco Y. Tañala, and the Chief of Finance Section, Michelle G. Suan.
On the other hand, the media practitioners were Mr. Fermin Honey and Jayne Galit of DYSM Aksyon RADYO Catarman, Dennis Orsolino and Samuel Delabajan of Love Radio Catarman, and Danny Balading and Joy Amor of Radyo Pilipinas Catarman.
One of the questions that was asked during the forum was the issue on Samar Pacific Coastal Road where NSSDEO received three different complaints or Request for Action (RFA) from the concerned netizens.
As a response, DE Charlito enlightened everybody that this road section is still in the process of being converted from local to national road.
”This is not under our mandate, because our mandate is to construct and repair national roads and bridges. This road section is still a local road. We are also trying our best to help, like our maintenance engineers initiates to undertake repair woks on said road.” DE Carlobos said.
Then, ADE Atty. Sabong added that, “Major repair and maintenance of this road is not our jurisdiction yet and not included in our regular DPWH mandate as this road is still a local road, however our office has a project proposal of Php 25 million for FY 2025 for the Rehabilitation of Simora-Palapag Road, Palapag, Northern Samar.”
Furthermore, they eventually asked for the process or criteria of conversion, then ADE Atty. Sabong immediately responded that there a lot of things to consider including the Road Right of Way matters, needed to be 4 lanes, and the traffic survey, for it to be converted into national road.
Some issues that have been raised are the road widening projects, proposal of by-pass Road in Palapag, update of Laoang Bridge 1 and 2, preventive maintenance issues, and update for some NSSDEO breakthrough projects.
Queries raised by the media were all answered. DE Carlobos said that there are lot of on-going projects in the province that is advantageous both to the end-users and the locality.(RONEL L.GALUPO,PIO ALTERNATE/PR)
