DPWH cites P3-B projects in Central Pangasinan

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

LINGAYEN – The chiefs of the two Engineering Offices of the Department of Public Works & Highway in Pangasinan cited the proceeds of the roughly PhP 3 billion infrastructure projects allocation this year intended for the three congressional districts of the province.

Pangasinan 4^th Engineering Office's District Engineer (DE) Simplicio Gonzales said that the PhP 1 billion allocated by Congress in the five towns and one city’s district whose office is based in Sta. Barbara town could spike as they will be widening highways and roads especially in Malasiqui town, flood control, and gabion at the Dagupan-Calasiao boundary where the Sinocalan River passes.

A gabion, according to Wikipidea, is a cage, cylinder, or box filled with rocks, concrete, or sometimes sand and soil for use in civil engineering, road building, military applications and landscaping.

He also cited that the new swanky two-story building where all his staff and personnel are now using it cost the government PhP30 million.

Pangasinan 2nd Engineering Office DE Edita Leano Manuel whose office is based in Lingayen town said that she was not certain about the exact amount of the appropriation this year by Congress for the 2nd and 3^rd Congressional Districts.

D.E - Pangasinan 2nd and 4th Engineering Offices District Engineers Edita Leano Manuel (left) and Simplicio Gonzales. 

But last year, she continued, the national government allocated almost two billion pesos for the two districts she covered.

The 2^nd District has eight towns while the 4^th District covers four towns and one city.

Manuel cited roads and flood control like the one at the Dagupan City- Calasiao boundary where her office continues to construct gabion there as some of the projects.

“Meron meron pero may mga gaps pa kasi hindi pa nag meet doon dumadaan ang tubig,” cited by the newly designated DE Manuel, who is a native of Urdaneta City, on the flood control project that could mitigate floods on the two local government units.

The other public works her office accomplished through the private contractors were PhP20 million 200 - meter concrete revetment at Millies-NBI Area in Dagupan City and PhP40 million 700 - meter flood mitigation project at Millies-NBI Area.

Revetment, according to Merriam Webster Dictionary, is facing (as of stone or concrete) to sustain an embankment.

She said that her office eyes a third flood gate at Perez Area after the two were constructed at Arellano and Millies Areas.    

Meanwhile, it is not yet ascertained by this newspaper if some of the PhP3 billion allocation for Central Pangasinan was affected by President Rodrigo R. Duterte's veto last April of the PhP 95.3 appropriations as part of the PhP3.757 Trillion national budget for this year.

The budget, ratified on February 8 by both chambers of Congress, was transmitted to the Office of the President on March 26 by the Senate with a letter on the Senate President’s reservations over some P95 billion in funds the House of Representatives allegedly realigned after the spending plan was ratified.

Of this amount, P75 billion was realigned to fund programs and projects under the Local Infrastructure Program of the DPWH.

The newly built swanky DPWH's two-story building that according to 4th Pangasinan Engineering Office DE Gonzales cost PhP30 million. The Office is located in Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan.