TACLOBAN CITY – Three of the four segments of a road project funded by the United States (US) in Samar Island is on track, raising confidence that the road network will be fully upgraded by 2016, the Millennium Challenge Account – Philippines (MCA-P) reported.Contract package (CP) 1, covering a 16.3-kilometer road in Paranas, Samar as well as the replacement of Tabucan Bridge is now 98.24% complete, MCA-P said in its June 2014 status report.
The P802-million infrastructure project was awarded on September 2012 to a Filipino consortium DM Consunji Inc. and CM Pancho Construction Inc.
CP 2, the largest in terms of value as it involves the reconstruction of 63.68-kilometer road stretch from Hinabangan, Samar to Sulat, Eastern Samar is the only segment that is way behind schedule. The target accomplishment as of mid-June is 16.34 percent, but actual completion rate is only 5.32 percent.
The P2.5 billion road segment, awarded to Chinese firm Qingjian Group Co. Ltd. also includes rehabilitation of 20 bridges and reconstruction of five others. Other activities include construction of slope stability measures on landslide areas, construction of new drainage structures, and installation of road safety measures.
CP 3 is now 40 percent complete with a negative slippage of only 2.5 percent. This P2.45 billion segment covers 64.58 kilometers and the replacement of six bridges from the town boundary of San Julian and Sulat to Balangkayan and Llorente municipal boundary in Eastern Samar.
The road rehabilitation package that uses cold in-situ asphalt recycling technology was awarded to a joint venture between a Filipino company, Mac Builders, and a Chinese firm, Qingjian Group Co. Ltd. Ahead of schedule is CP 4, which covers rehabilitation of 77.5 kilometers of road in the towns of Llorente, Hernani, General McArthur, Quinapondan, Salcedo, Mercedes, and Guiuan.
The P2.2 billion project, awarded to consortium of Hanjin and Yakal Construction is now 13.15% complete, ahead of 10.37 percent target for the period according to MCA-P report. The US-funded USD214.4-million Secondary National Roads Development Project (SNRDP) in Samar Island has started October 2012 and will be completed April 2016. MCA-P is a Philippine entity responsible for managing the implementation of the $434-million US government’s grant. The compact is focused on reducing poverty through economic growth by funding projects in tax administration reform, community-driven development and roads rehabilitation. (SARWELL Q.MENIANO)
