P1.8 billion needed to rehab damaged infras

By John Noel E. Herrera

The rehabilitation and repair of typhoon-stricken infrastructure in Western Visayas are now starting to move forward after the Regional Development Council’s (RDC) committee on infrastructure passed a resolution pushing for the rehab and restoration of damaged structures due to Severe Tropical Storm Paeng.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-6 earlier said that it needs around P1.8 billion for the rehabilitation and restoration of damaged structures, based also on the damage reports submitted by District Engineering Offices (DEOs) in the region.

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P Trenas, chair of the infrastructure committee, said they are hopeful that there will be an allocation intended for the required funds in the 2023 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

“Amo na ang ginalagas naton subong kay ti daw on the final stages na ang aton General Appropriations Act or ang proposed budget for next year. Basi pa man lang may mga portion sang budget nga ma-realign para diri,” Trenas said.

The mayor added that the RDC-6 infrastructure committee’s resolution will be submitted to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the House of Representatives through House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, the Senate through Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, and the DPWH central office.

The DPWH-6 also earlier presented during the Full Council Meeting of Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) the damage reports submitted by DEOs in the region.

Data indicated that Antique DEO reported the biggest estimate of damaged infrastructure with around P497 million, followed by Iloilo First DEO (P215 million), and Negros Occidental Second DEO (P205 million).

DPWH-6 director Nerie Bueno said 119 infrastructure projects in the region were damaged by typhoon Paeng, which include 68 roads, 41 bridges, and 10 flood control structures.

It added that the Paliwan Bridge in Antique province, which connects the towns of Laua-an and Bugasong, needs around P355 million for its restoration alone, while the Oyungan Bridge in Miag-ao, Iloilo, needs around P321 million.

The breakdown of the funds required by each DEO to undertake the repair and rehabilitation:

Aklan DEO – P80 million

Antique DEO – P497.033 million

Capiz First DEO – P150 million

Capiz Second DEO – P76.860 million

Iloilo First DEO – P215 million

Iloilo Second DEO – P248 million

Iloilo Third DEO – P95.235

Iloilo Fourth DEO – P70.600 million

Negros Occidental First DEO – P16 million

Negros Occidental Second DEO – P205.7 million

Negros Occidental Third DEO – P9.670 million

Negros Occidental Sub-DEO – P 113.881 million