NAVAL, Biliran- David P. Adongay Jr., district engineer of Biliran District Engineering Office, is rushing for the completion of on-going 2017 projects.
As of May 31, 2018, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) – Biliran District Engineering Office has an accomplishment of 74.16% for 57 total projects under year 2017 infrastructure program.
Out of the 57 projects, 52 are completed while five projects with an allocation of P50 million and above are still on-going.
Spilled-over projects of 2017 includes widening projects, rehabilitation of access road leading to Naval port, and rehabilitations of slope protection structures.
Having a negative slippage of 5.73% as of May 31, 2018, Adongay orders project engineers to closely monitor on the projects for fast completion.
“Hindi ibig sabihin na pag’ pinabibilis natin ang trabaho ay dapat macompromise ang quality ng project, dapat nandoon pa rin yung quality,” Adongay said.
Meanwhile, Adongay informs that starting 2019, the department will be implementing a “cash-based appropriation” policy.
This means that contractors’ payment can only be done within a 15-month period.
“From the year the project was implemented and completed, contracts delivered at the end of the year can be paid during the 3-month Extended Payment Period (EPP) or from month of January to March only of the following year,” Adongay said.
This is in contrast from the present policy of the DPWH which is the “obligation-based appropriations” wherein the inspection, verification, and payment for contractors will run 24 months and beyond.
“This year 2018 is the transition period for contractors to be cognizant of the shift,” he said.
According to Adongay, the shift will ensure that agencies will focus on executing the budget of the current year and not from prior years. This is part of President Rodrigo Duterte’s Build, Build, and Build. (PR)
