TACLOBAN CITY–The Tacloban City District Engineering Office, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture Regional Office 8 through its Regional Agricultural Engineering Division (RAED), conducted a site visit to two farm-to-market roads on May 9, 2024. The roads inspected were the Brgy. Palanog to Brgy. Salvacion farm-to-market road and Brgy. Paglaum to Brgy. Palanog farm-to-market road.

The site visit was part of the Training on Material Testing and Quality Control for Agricultural Infrastructure Projects held from May 7-10, 2024 in Leyte.

The training comprised both theoretical and practical application of engineering principles, as well as site visits to the aforementioned Farm to Market Road projects.

During the site visit, the trainees had the opportunity to conduct a Field Density Test (FDT) and a Slump Test. The FDT is a test done on construction sites to check how compact the soil is, ensuring the ground is solid enough for building.

The Slump Test is done on concrete to measure its workability or fluidity. It involves filling a cone with concrete, removing the cone, and observing how much the concrete ‘slumps’ or falls, which helps ensure the concrete is the right consistency for use.

Engineers Reyboy Lantajo and Justine Karl Calinao from the Construction Section of the Tacloban City District Engineering Office assisted the trainees from the Department of Agriculture Regional Office 8 during the site visit and the tests.

“The site visit provided an invaluable opportunity for practical learning and application of engineering principles,” Engr. Reyboy Lantajo said in response to the successful site visit. “The Field Density Test and Slump Test conducted by the trainees are crucial in ensuring the quality and durability of our infrastructure projects.” (PR)

TACLOBAN CITY-Tacloban City District Engineering Office has initiated the construction of the approaches for the Mangonbangon Bridge II, a significant infrastructure project aimed at enhancing connectivity in the region.

The bridge project, which was launched in March 2022, involves building a sturdy, four-lane bridge with a total width of 12.48m. This project, funded by the General Appropriations Act of 2022 (GAA 2022), has a total contract value of P17,638,577.64.

Despite the completion of the Mangonbangon II Bridge, the construction of its approaches was only approved this year. This indicates that the bridge and the approaches are not a single project, but two distinct projects.

The second project, which includes the construction of a concrete approach and drainage on both sides of the Mangonbangon Bridge, has a total contract value of P 14,647,891.94. This project is funded under the General Appropriations Act of 2024. As of now, the project is in progress and has reached 15% completion.

The Office believes that this circumstance may have led to the recent public and media misunderstanding that the bridge remains incomplete despite the commencement of construction two years ago. The absence of a fully furnished concrete approaches gives the bridge an overall unfinished appearance.

In light of the confusion, OIC-District Engineer Rebecca G. Yuse released a statement to elucidate the situation.

“We wish to clarify to the public that while the Mangonbangon Bridge II is indeed complete, the construction of its approaches has only recently begun. We are dedicated to the expeditious completion of this project for the benefit of the residents of Tacloban,” stated OIC-DE Yuse.

In a bid to expedite the construction of the approaches, Mangonbangon Bridge II has been temporarily closed to traffic from April 29 to May 29, 2024. This measure aims to facilitate uninterrupted construction activities, ensuring the timely completion of the vital infrastructure.

The Tacloban City District Engineering Office remains committed to the timely completion of the approaches, with the goal of fully operationalizing the Mangonbangon Bridge II to better serve the commuting public.
(IAN YVES G.DE PAZ, PUBLIC RELATIONS ASSISTANT, PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE,TCDEO)

Intended for former NPA members

TACLOBAN CITY– The provincial government of Samar is expanding the ‘Saad nga Balay’ project to more local government units, aiming to help more former members of the New People’s Army (NPA) secure decent housing.

This was disclosed by Governor Sharee Ann Tan who said that the housing project, conceptualized by 801st Brigade commander BGen Lenart Lelina, will also be implemented in Matuguinao town.

Gov. Tan announced plans to construct 30 housing units in Matuguinao, a municipality located in the heart of Samar Island near the boundary with Northern Samar province.
Initially, the provincial government sought assistance from the National Housing Authority (NHA) for the shelter project, but the agency lacked the necessary funds for housing assistance for former rebels.

“Somehow, all the promises we made to the former rebels were fulfilled except for the shelter. We didn’t want there to be any gaps in our assistance, so we initiated this housing project,” Tan explained.

She added that adjustments to the funding for the project would be made based on their experience with the Saad nga Balay project in San Jose de Buan.

“We just have to make sure that the land we are going to use is ready before we can allocate the funds,” the governor said.

The Saad nga Balay project was first implemented in San Jose de Buan, with groundbreaking in August 2023, construction starting in September, and the completion and turnover of the initial 10 houses to beneficiaries in April 2024 with an initial funding of P2.5 million.

This month, Calbiga town held a groundbreaking ceremony for the second Saad nga Balay project, which includes 10 units in Brgy. Polangi, funded by the provincial government with P2.8 million.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)