TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has completed a new staff housing facility in MacArthur, Leyte, aimed at improving employee welfare and operational readiness, particularly for personnel assigned far from their homes.
Constructed by the DPWH Leyte 2nd District Engineering Office (L2DEO), the two-storey multi-purpose building serves as a staff house designed to provide safe, accessible, and comfortable accommodation for employees.
The facility has a total floor area of 517.5 square meters and includes designated quarters for male and female personnel, along with essential amenities such as comfort rooms. Its open ground floor, measuring 35 meters by 11.5 meters, is intended for various functions including trainings, meetings, and emergency preparedness activities.
Officials said the new structure is expected to enhance productivity by reducing travel time for employees assigned to distant project sites, allowing them to remain focused and responsive in their duties while supporting better work-life balance.
Beyond housing, the building is also seen to strengthen teamwork and coordination by providing a shared space for collaboration and professional development activities.
Engr. Sharon Agustin, officer-in-charge assistant district engineer of DPWH-L2DEO, said the facility addresses long-standing challenges faced by personnel following the relocation of their office. She noted that many employees previously commuted from towns such as Carigara, Barugo, Jaro, and Tunga, making daily travel difficult.
The staff house, she added, not only accommodates employees but can also host visiting personnel from the DPWH Central Office, while the ground floor can be utilized for trainings and emergency response-related programs.
Funded under the 2025 General Appropriations Act, the project was implemented with a contract cost of P19.58 million by WJ Builders.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
