DPWH allots P6.6B for infra projects in Bicol

By Marlon A. Loterte

LEGAZPI CITY, Jan. 28 (PIA) -- Some P6.6 billion has been allocated for this year by the government for infrastructure projects in the Bicol region to be implemented by the Department of Public Works and High Ways (DPWH).

DPWH 5 Regional Director Danilo Dequito said the P6.6 billion worth of infrastructure projects was included in the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for 2013.

The P6.6 billion budget this year indicated an increase of 20 percent compared to the 2012 budget which was P5.575 billion.

Dequito said the P5.3 billion worth of projects will be implemented by several DPWH District Engineering Offices (DEOs) in the provinces of Bicol while the P1.317 billion worth will be implemented by the regional office.

Camarines Sur gets the biggest chunk with P1.589 billion, followed by Albay with P1.048 billion, Camarines Norte with P922.504 million; Catanduanes with P681.694 million; Masbate with P524.263 million and Sorsogon with P520.714 million.

Dequito said the DPWH Regional Office (RO) will implement the P1.317 billion worth of projects region-wide or those projects beyond the limit of authority granted to DEOs but whose amount does not exceed P150 million in consonance with DPWH Department Order 55, series of 2010, issued by Secretary Rogelio L. Singson.

These projects include the Camarines Sur/Albay Diversion Road or the San Fernando-Oas Section of the Philippine Highway (PPH), including bridges with an allocation of P300 million; opening the Bacon-Manito Road, P100 million; Bicol River Basin and Watershed Management Project (Flood Mitigation Component), P455 million; Legazpi City Urban Drainage Project, P300 million and drainage/protection works along national roads, P147 million.

“On top of these locally funded projects (LFPs) is P637 million worth of foreign assisted projects for implementation in the provinces of Camarines Sur and Catanduanes which will be handled by our central office,” Dequito said.

Dequito said P15 million was also provided under the GAA for the preliminary and detailed engineering activities of all the projects for implementation. (MAL-PIA5/Albay)



ICS to saturate Bicol provinces this year for disaster and emergency response

By Angelica R. Sajuela

LEGAZPI CITY, Jan 28 (PIA) -- The Incident Command System (ICS) will also be established in the provinces of Camarines Norte and Masbate within the first quarter this year after its launch in Albay, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes and Sorsogon last May 2012.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) 5 said ICS will be launched in two more provinces of the region, providing an improved and more organized system of responding to emergency situations.

Known as the “synchronized response system,” ICS is a standard on-scene, all hazard incident management concept that can be used by all Disaster Risk Reduction Management Councils (DRRMCs) or emergency management and response agencies.

Emergency response agencies include the Philippine Air Force, Army, Navy, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Coast Guard, Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Health and Emergency Management System under the Department of Health (DOH).

Parts of the preparations and development of the system include technical training as well as modules regarding the system.

Trained experts called “cadre” or a core group of trained personnel able to assume control and able train others will train the response agencies of the provinces.

The launching of ICS is one of OCD’s ways in realizing their vision of a “strengthened civil protection and command resilience to disasters.” (MAL-ARSajuela-BU-PIA5/Albay)