Aiming to ensure that what is most needed will be included in the proposed projects for FY 2024 for the Province of Agusan del Sur, DPWH Regional Office 13 officials collaborated with the District Engineering Offices of Agusan del Sur 1st and 2nd together with the Local Government Unit of Agusan del Sur for a Strategic Planning Session on February 15, 2023 at the DPWH Regional Office 13 Conference Room. This is to address valid issues concerning prioritization of proposed infrastructure projects in the Province of Agusan del Sur under the department’s mandate.
The meeting was attended by DPWH RO13 Key Officials headed by Regional Director Pol M. Delos Santos, Assistant Regional Director Alex B. Ramos, District Engineers Emedio C. Ontal and Ben Alden R. Serna, of Agusan del Sur 1st and 2nd District Engineering Offices, Section Chiefs of the Planning and Design Division including the Districts Planning and Design Section Chiefs and, representatives from the LGU of Agusan del Sur.
RD Pol Delos Santos expressed the need to address and discuss the infrastructure development projects in Agusan del Sur; what are the needed priorities considering that the submission of Regional Budget Proposal for FY 2024 to the Central Office is fast approaching.
Engr. Vincent Roderick O. Acebes, the Chief of Planning and Design Division (PDD), also stated that this endeavor aims to encourage the district offices to address their concerns on what projects under their jurisdiction needs immediate funding. He also stated that the inputs of the District Engineers will also be the basis on the priority projects that will be incorporated in the Regional Budget Proposal for 2024.
“In this endeavor, we will focus on the Development/Improvement of our Regional Development Investment Program 2023-2028 as well as focus on the Regional Budget Proposal for 2024. If you have projects to be incorporated that are duly validated and in accordance with our mandate, we might as well include that for indorsement in the Regional Development Council (RDC). The aim of this meeting is to harmonize everything. We will work as one department and do this for the entire Caraga Region” Engr. Acebes explained.
The body then come up and agreed on the following proposals:
In Agusan del Sur 1st DEO, total proposal for FY 2024 is Php 1,674,800,000 billion for 19 projects. These include projects categorized under 001 category, consisting of Asset Preservation -Preventive Maintenance – Primary Roads, Bridge-Replacement of Permanent Weak Bridges, Bridge-Widening of Permanent Bridges and Network Development-Road Widening – Primary Roads, while proposal for FY 2024 in Agusan del Sur 2nd totals Php 2,017,145,000 billion for 27 projects, also under 001 category. For the two Districts, a total of Php 3,691,945,000 billion is proposed for FY 2024.
Engineer Alex D. Puyo, OIC-Chief of the Planning Section, Regional Office, explained that the proposed projects are identified as unwidened roads based on the data collected where the amounts are still subject for correction, depending on the price escalation and the outcome of actual validation to be conducted by ADS district offices.
Meanwhile, Engr. Acalayen added that District Engineers should conduct accurate validation of the projects under its jurisdiction especially those projects along Daang Maharlika (Agusan-Davao) Road.
“In your proposal, see to it that the projects are already categorized as top priority” she stressed.
HIGH IMPACT PROJECTS IN AGUSAN DEL SUR
For general information, DPWH has currently six (6) on-going High Impact Projects under Multi-Year Programs from 2015 to 2030, in Agusan del Sur – 001 category; these include projects under missing links and new roads and other bypass/diversion roads.
The High Impact projects are as follows:
- East-West lateral road connecting Agusan Del Sur to Bukidnon, Agusan – Malaybalay Road, Agusan del Sur
- East-West Lateral Road connecting Agusan del Sur to Bukidnon, Sampaguita – Makilos, Agusan del Sur
- Agusan del Norte / Agusan del Sur North – South Lateral Road, (Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte – Kapalong, Davao del Norte)
- Daang Maharlika (Alternate Route) (NRJ – Mayor Democrito D. Plaza II Avenue – Las Nieves – Sibagat)
- Butuan City-Pianing-Tandag Road
- East-West lateral road connecting Agusan Del Sur to Bukidnon, San Miguel Proper (Surigao del Sur) – Calaitan (Bayugan)
Other matters discussed during the meeting are Convergence Program concerns, Road Right-Of-Way issues and other reminders.
(Source: Department of Public Works and Highways – Caraga Facebook page)