NSSDEO, Brgy. Burabud, Laoang, N. Samar, 08/31/2023 – Inspectorate Team of NSSDEO, led by OIC-District Engineer Charlito S. Carlobos, together with Engr. Gil D. Herrera, Jr., Chief, Construction Section, Engr. Fiona A. Anunciado, Acting Chief, Planning and Design Section, Engr. Eduardo M. Lagrimas, Chief, Quality Assurance Section, and Engr. Francisco Y. Tañala, Chief, Maintenance Section, visited the site of on-going projects along Mapanas-Gamay to ensure that the work program is implemented appropriately.
The Concreting of Flood Control Carriageway in Barangay Cagamutan, Gamay, Northern Samar, Construction of Gamay Multi-Purpose Evacuation Center, Gamay, Northern Samar, and Rehabilitation/Reconstruction of National Roads with Slips, Slope Collapse, and Landslide, Secondary Roads, Pangpang-Palapag-Mapanas-Gamay-Lapinig Rd – K0830 + 205.30 – K0830 + 554, Northern Samar, 2nd District, were the projects inspected on Wednesday, August 23, 2023.
The construction of the flood control carriageway in Barangay Cagamutan covers the construction of a 54-lineal-meter flood control structure with an allocation of P10-M from the General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2023. This project, with contract ID 23II0051, is being managed by CDU Construction and is now at 86.01% completion.
With also a P10-M fund from GAA 2023, the Construction of Gamay Multi-Purpose Evacuation Center in Gamay, Northern Samar, is now in its 34.55% status carried out by A-Cube Construction and Supply. The construction of this three – storey and 193.2 m2 Multi-Purpose Evacuation Center incorporates reinforced concrete works, finishing works such as masonry, plastering, roof insulation, concrete gutter waterproofing, roofing works, and plumbing. Additionally included in the program are steel painting and electrical rough-in work.
The last project visited was the recently completed Rehabilitation/Reconstruction of National Roads with Slips, Slope Collapse, and Landslide, Secondary Roads, Pangpang-Palapag-Mapanas-Gamay-Lapinig Rd – K0830 + 205.30 – K0830 + 554, Northern Samar, 2nd District. It was finished on August 02, 2023, with the following scope of work: (1) construction of 248.70 meters of slope protection (structural concrete gravity wall with application of bio-engineering): a. Sta. k0830+205.30 – K0830+420 (length = 214.70m, left side); b. K0830+520 – K0830+554 (length = 34.00, left side); and (2) construction of 348.70 meters of structural concrete (drainage canal and parapet wall): K0830+205.30 – K0830+554 (left side). It has a P72-M fund taken from GAA 2022, implementing works were carried out by JUPA Construction under contract ID 22II0058.
The DPWH-NSSDEO’s completion of projects of the above mentioned municipalities addressed the preservation and conservation of environment and provides convenient public transportation as well as safety of the people during calamities, as mandated by the Department.
(ZYRA JOY J.CHING, PIO STAFF)
Diverting public attention
Blaming others and their past actions had been the easy excuse for this administration’s failure to produce enough rice for its people. Top officials had identified many unidentifiable excuses that they thought could be blamed for the current situation. One thought had to do with the reduction of farmlands owing to the conversion of rice fields to commercial, industrial and residential uses. Many arable lands had in fact been developed into subdivisions to accommodate people whose want is to be home in areas near their workplaces. It is man’s want to get rid of strenuous travels from work to home that push them to look for home sites near their workplaces. In urban centers where work opportunities are aplenty, people would try utilizing the most accessible land even if not suitable for residential purposes.
There might be truth to such observation as many industries are established in what used to be agricultural lands. The natural offshoot is the establishment of home sites in such areas, taking up huge tracts to satisfy the need. But even with such developments, there still are so much agricultural areas left for farming. Our vast lands are still larger than those of our neighbor countries where we now depend for our rice supply. It seems not much a factor that some areas had been converted to other uses for in fact, there are still a lot of idle lands that are ideal for farming but are not being utilized for food production.
The conversion of farmlands into homesites to accommodate the housing projects of wealthy home developers had diminished the areas for rice production. There too are industrial areas had caused the land use for agriculture into manufacturing and factory sites in the guise of labor intensive enterprises that are gradually employing machines than workers. There indeed is a need to give a new direction to government programs and projects that would truly address the socio-economic condition of the impoverished lot instead of diverting public attention.
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