Palo, Leyte – The Regional Development Council VIII – Regional Project Monitoring Committee (RDC VIII-RPMC) tackled anew the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) projects during its 4th Quarter 2018 Meeting held on 29 November 2018 at the NEDA Regional Office VIII, Palo, Leyte.
The DPWH VIII presented updates on the implementation of the PAMANA Program’s infrastructure component in the region. Discussion focused on the possible transfer of the implementation of problematic PAMANA projects to the Department of National Defense (DND), specifically the Engineering Brigade of the Philippine Army. Three (3) projects reported as terminated/for termination as of October 2018 were recommended for transfer: 1) Construction of Bridge, Poblacion (Motiong)-New Minarog-Maypange-Candumacol-Bunga-Angyap Pusongan-Canligues Road, Motiong, Samar (PhP71.0 million); 2) Construction of Reinforced Concrete Box Culvert (RCBC), Single Barrel, Bugay-Guiguinta-Bugtusan-Mabini-Taylor-Victory-El Empon-Poponton-Cuenco Road, Las Navas, Northern Samar (PhP114.7 million); and 3) Construction of Bugay-Guiguinta-Bugtusan-Mabini-Taylor-Victory-El Empon Poponton-Cuenco Road, Las Navas, Northern Samar (PhP192.0 million).
The Committee also recommended to include the transfer of five (5) more projects funded under the PAMANA CY 2018 Infrastructure Program which were reported to have not yet started: 1) Construction of Lope de Vega-Silvino Lobos Road, Phase 4, Northern Samar (PhP98.5 million); 2) Construction of Bugay-Guiguinta-Mabini-Taylor-Victory-El Empon-Poponton-Cuenco Road, Phase 2, Las Navas, Northern Samar (PhP197.0 million); 3) Construction of Siljahon-Naparasan-Quezon-Magsaysay Farm-to-Market Road (FMR), Mapanas, Northern Samar (PhP63.6 million); 4) Construction of RCDG Bridge (Double Lane) at Brgy. Santa Potenciana, Mapanas, Northern Samar (PhP36.4 million); and 5) Rehabilitation of Conzoilo FMR, Jaro, Leyte (PhP9.6 million).
The Committee’s recommendation to transfer the implementation of these projects was extensively discussed during the Joint RDC VIII-Regional Peace and Order Council Eastern Visayas (RPOC EV)-Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council 8 (RDRRMC 8) meeting on 3 December 2018 in Ormoc City. With the presence of DND Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana, who manifested his willingness to accept the projects, particularly those which have not yet started and those hindered by peace and order problems, said recommendation was adopted by the three (3) Councils and favorably endorsed it to the Central Offices of the Office of Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), the Department of National Defense (DND), and the DPWH, through Joint RDC VIII-RPOC EV-RDRRMC 8 Resolution No. 3, Series of 2018.
Article by Mary Fretzie R. Basal, PMED, NEDA VIII
