DPWH bids out 91% of infra projects this yr

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said yesterday that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has successfully bid out 91 percent of infrastructure projects slated for the year.

According to the DBM, 2,227 of the 2,452 infrastructure projects slated for 2012 have been bid out, with 87 percent or 2,132 of these projects already given notices to proceed.

Budget and Management Secretary Florencio Abad said the DPWH posted these accomplishments as of end-May.

 “We’re very pleased to note that nearly all local infrastructure projects have been bid out by the DPWH, and that a sizeable number of these projects have likewise been issued notices to proceed. This will certainly allow the DPWH to absorb the construction of more infrastructure projects in the second semester of the year,” Abad said in a statement.

Abad said there would be more progress in the completion of key infrastructure projects in the coming months.

The DBM said that 1,967 projects costing below P50 million have already been given Notices to Proceed, while 162 projects costing P50 million to P150 million have also been approved.

Three projects worth more than P150 million have also been given the go signal, Abad said.

 “The issuance of notices to proceed on these projects will allow the DPWH to incur the necessary obligations and receive the corresponding funds to jump-start project execution. Appropriations for projects with Notices to Proceed now amount to P48.23 billion, 75 percent of the total programmed amount of P64.65 billion under the 2012 General Appropriations Act (GAA),” Abad said. Apart from these projects, Abad said the DBM is also allocation an additional P5 billion for the construction of national roads to tourism zones.

This project is set to be implemented in the second semester.

 “The roads will not only improve the exchange of goods and key social services, but will also increase access to tourism zones, which contribute significantly to the economy and provide immediate benefits to communities in tourism zones,” Abad said.