394 projects in NCR completed last year - DPWH

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Tuesday said its National Capital Region office had accomplished a total of 394 projects in 2021.

In a statement, DPWH-NCR director Nomer Abel Canlas said that the DPWH-NCR and its district engineering offices (DEO) reached an overall absorptive capacity of 94.89% after obligating a total of P44.3 billion.

It also got a prior year disbursement rate of 83.13% from disbursing a total of P46.6 billion.

“2021 is a year of many milestones for the DPWH-NCR. We were able to implement vital infrastructure projects and programs that are responsive to the special needs of the region with the biggest population,” said Canlas.

Among the notable projects of the DPWH-NCR in 2021 were the dredging operations along Pasig-Marikina River, and the establishment of bike lanes along Roxas Boulevard, Osmeña Highway, Kalayaan Avenue, Shaw Boulevard, Araneta Avenue, Radial Road 8, EDSA, and C-5.

It also built quarantine facilities in Las Piñas and Malacañan Park, the Pasig Modular Hospital Zapote River Drive, and the Mandaluyong City Jail; and paved the way for the Assistance to Support Youth and Unemployed for Development and Advancement (AYUDA) program which employed 917 people.

On right-of-way acquisition, the region reported a 96.88% accomplishment on the NLEX-SLEX Connector Road project, having 690 families relocated; 81 families given housing or financial assistance, and 873 others provided with replacement cost.

Meanwhile, 182 families were relocated and seven families were given financial assistance for the Mindanao Avenue Project.

About 10,652 caballero trees were also planted on the center islands of the national roads in NCR as part of the Clean and Green Program undertaken by the nine NCR DEOs.

Further, Canlas announced the regional office’s plan to start proposing the transfer of all cable lines in NCR underground, and to start adapting innovations and best practices from other Southeast Asian countries.

The DPWH-NCR has also commenced the process of detailed engineering design and pre-construction activities to ensure the completion of its 1,692 projects under the 2022 General Appropriations Act. — VBL, GMA News