By Judy Mae Magdato-Sajo
The Department of Interior and Local Government recently evaluated two road projects in Antique funded by the Conditional Matching Grant to Provinces (CMGP).
The exit conference was held Jan. 31, 2020 at the Provincial Engineering Office in San Jose de Buenavista, Antique.
‘We encourage the Provincial Local Government Unit (PLGU) to not only focus on the completion of the project, but to ensure that the required technical specifications are achieved by implementing mechanisms of quality assurance,” according to DILG Regional Quality Assurance Engr. Job Vicenter Arungayan.
CMGP funds were provided for the road repair, rehabilitation and improvement of the following provincial roads: Candari-Malumpati-Sto. Rosario Road in Pandan (Php46.4 million) in 2018 and Inabasan-Bugarot Road in San Jose de Buenavista (Php12.9M) in 2019.
The two projects were assessed by a joint inspection composed of DILG’s quality assurance engineers and a representative from the Provincial Engineering Office on January 28-31, 2020.
The findings and observations of the on-site inspection, interview, validation and assessment of the CMGP projects were discussed with the representatives of the contractors during the exit conference.
Recommendations were also provided on the general requirements, project billboard, workmanship and timeliness of the road projects.
The inspection results show that the CMGP road project in Pandan is at 54% while the road project in San Jose is at 69% as of January 2020.
DILG Antique urged the contractors and program implementers to fast track project implementation and submit documentation of rectification works.
The PEO was also advised to require the contractor for a full time personnel to conduct close monitoring and quality control on the project as well as update necessary documents in compliance with the approved plans, specifications and contract provisions set by the implementing unit.
The contractors were also required to submit a report on actions taken based on the required rectification, with proper documentation.
“The findings and recommendations are based on the Road Projects Quality Management Manual for Local Government Units and standards set by DPWH,” said DILG Antique Quality Assurance Engineer Mary Lyn Joy Camina said.
The manual is a joint collaboration of the DILG and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) which aims to extend the lifespan and functionality of the roads and ensure that the roads are constructed in conformance to quality assurance standards.
The on-going projects are expected to be finished by March 2020.
