DPWH Paragas settles on some infras, prays TRO on “pork” lifted

LINGAYEN – The new chief of the 2^nd district engineering office of the Department of Public Works & Highway have to implement some infrastructure projects including those left by his predecessor this year and wait for those that are withheld because of the temporary restraining order (TRO) on the “pork barrel” of members of congress.

District Engineer Paragas

District Engineer Elpidio “Pidyong” Paragas said that construction of two bridges in Dagupan City, the San Jose Bridge in Brgy. Baay here, and a bridge in Bugallon town have been ongoing if not to be started on December this year.

“Sa ngayon marami rin tayo ginagawa na mga projects na naiwan. Hindi pa natatapos for this year,”he said on a TV interview recently.

Paragas said his office oversees the constructions of the thickness and density of concrete highways, asphalt overlay under the preservation maintenance of the DPWH, the lateral drainage, and others.

He said some of the projects that should be implemented this year are withheld by the TRO.

“We are waiting of the lifting of the TRO very soon. That is the time we can expedite the (construction of the) projects”.

The restraining order was filed  recently at the Supreme Court by senatorial candidates Samson Alcantara and Greco Belgica and Pedro Nepomoceno versus President Benigno Aquino III, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Senate President Franklin Drilon and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte at the High Tribunal assailing the constitutionality of the PDAF,

In a reference material given by Paragas in this paper it said there that what used to be the P40 million priority development assistance fund (PDAF) or pork barrel that fund the “hard” part or the infrastructures of the PDAF of each of the congressmen has been decreased to P24.5 million as what House of Representatives Speaker Sonny Belmonte and the DPWH have agreed.

“Starting 2014, the following guidelines in congressmen’s infrastructure projects will be observed that each solon may proposed between 3 and 5 projects, subject to DPWH’s approval; The total amount of a solon’s approved projects should not exceed p24.5 million; Each project should be worth at least P2 million; Projects will go through public bidding; and Projects should be completed within the budget year, “the material said.