The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is fast-tracking the construction of various infrastructures, particularly flood control structures in Nueva Ecija province. DPWH Regional Director Roseller Tolentino said on Tuesday that officials from the Nueva Ecija 2nd District Engineering Office have inspected the various projects being implemented in the different towns to ensure timely completion with the onset of the rainy season. Tolentino said providing better protection to ensure the safety of the lives and properties of the residents, especially during the rainy season, is among the top priorities of the DPWH. “The completion of the flood control projects is of great significance to our beneficiaries as they will help alleviate the difficulties caused by the monsoon season. Moreover, we can expect farmers to have better crop yields once the projects are completed,” he said in a statement. Likewise, the DPWH cited the importance of conducting routine project inspections to ensure contractors’ compliance with correct construction methodologies and adherence to the department’s guidelines and specifications. “We must make a concerted effort to provide thorough attention and diligent inspection to our projects to ensure the longevity of our infrastructure for the safety and benefit of the public,” said DPWH-Nueva Ecija assistant district engineer Robert Jay Panaligan. The ongoing projects include the construction of river walls along the Sta. Isabel and Bagong Sikat sections of the Pampanga River in Cabiao town as well as in the villages of Sto. Niño, San Lorenzo and Pambuan sections of the Peñaranda River in Gapan City. The DPWH is likewise rushing the construction of a flood control structure along Coronel River in Gabaldon town, Nueva Ecija to protect communities during the rainy season. The PHP88.4-million project involves the construction of an 846-lineal-meter gabion-type flood control structure along the Coronel River in Barangay Bugnan section in Gabaldon town. The whole project, which started in February this year, is expected to be finished in October. Upon its completion, the six-layered gabion wall, which is designed to be connected to previously built protective structures in the area, is seen to improve crop production by shielding nearby farmlands from river water overflow and reducing land scouring of the river banks.
Source: Philippines News Agency