Landbank offers expertise on right-of-way to DPWH

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has entered into an agreement with the Land Bank of the Philippines to expedite the appraisal of right-of-way (ROW) claims.

The DPWH said the agreement makes it easier to request from Landbank the appraisal of ROW claims since payment can be made upon completion and issuance of the certification by implementing offices, which is expected to be rendered within 10 days upon receipt of request.

“With this partnership, we will be able to implement time and cost-efficient projects, infrastructure including those farm-to-market and coastal roads, in support to Landbank’s vision of inclusive growth by serving the needs of farmers and fishermen,” Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar said.

Villar said Landbank would also provide the agency with the technical assistance in conducting property appraisal to determine the market value of parcels of land, structures, and crops and trees affected by infrastructure projects.

The Right of Way Act of 2016 or Republic Act 10752 requires implementing agency of infrastructure projects like DPWH to engage the services of a government financial institution with adequate experience in property appraisal such as Landbank.

 “Processing ROW acquisitions is one of the most critical parts in the undertaking of our projects under the Build Build Build Program,” Villar said.

The DPWH is the lead agency in expanding the country’s highways and expressways to give way to regional development and competitiveness.

The Duterte administration has made infrastructure among its top priorities, with public spending on infrastructure projects targeted to reach P8 trillion to P9 trillion from 2017 to 2022.

The administration also intends to identify potential big-ticket and highly impactful infrastructure projects that will create a pipeline that will last even beyond the term of President Duterte.