People often say that instead of building walls, we should be building bridges. A bridge brings people together, and a testament of hope and progress.
For the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), ‘building bridges’ means paving concrete paths towards the dreams of every Filipino.
It is intensifying the construction of various infrastructure projects that will provide more opportunities to those who need them the most.
Increasing the income of farmers
Filipino farmers spend tedious days in the field to provide food for the community. Some of them don’t even get an income that is enough for their daily hardship.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. earlier this year emphasized that his administration would prioritize farm-to-market roads (FMRs) that will greatly benefit the agricultural sector.
Given this, DPWH is building quality roads to make way for the seamless and swift transportation of their farm goods.
DPWH Assistant Regional Director Melquiades Sto. Domingo highlighted that P2.06 billion was allotted this year for the construction of about 128 FMRs in Central Luzon.
“We ensure that these projects are well developed for us to continuously assist our farmers in bringing their products to the markets easily and on time,” he said.
These projects will ensure that more farmers will be given better access to urban centers.
DPWH recently completed a two-lane FMR at Sitio Tapao, Barangay Butas na Bato in Dingalan, Aurora which also helped boost tourism in the area.
It likewise upgraded the Sto. Niño FMR in Magalang, Pampanga. The infrastructure improved the reachability of farms by providing farmers easy access to their agricultural lands.
Protecting communities against floods
Floods cause damages to infrastructure and agriculture, and disruption of economic and social activities. Last year, parts of Central Luzon were inundated due to torrential rains caused by the southwest monsoon that was enhanced by tropical cyclones Egay, Falcon, Goring, and Hanna.
Marcos, who led the damage assessment during that period, underscored that it is vital to come up with immediate, short, and long-term solutions to address flooding.
To avoid the same situation from happening again, DPWH is implementing flood mitigation projects all over the region.
For 2024, P35.5 billion was allotted for the construction of 430 projects.
Sto. Domingo underscored that among these projects is the raising of the Tulaoc bridge in San Simon, Pampanga portion of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) by 0.7 meters. It can be recalled that for the first time, that part of NLEX was flooded days after the river overflowed due to torrential rains.
Other flood mitigation structures being constructed by DPWH include the Masantol-Macabebe Ring Dike with Pumping Station in Pampanga, Tarlac Urban Drainage Projects, Bulacan Rivers Improvement Project, and the Aguang River Improvement Project in Aurora.
It has also deployed dredging equipment around the region to maintain the width and depth of rivers in preparation for the rainy season.
“We will continue to push forward for our projects… We ask for everybody’s patience and support to fasten the implementation of our projects,” Sto. Domingo pressed.
FMR and flood mitigation projects improve the quality of life. Most importantly, these promote social equity by ensuring that everyone in a community has access to the same opportunities and outcomes.
As said, it is crucial that the national government, especially DPWH as the engineering and construction arm, ensure that these infrastructures will be completed on time.
These will cement the way to the fulfillment of every individual’s potential to tread the path towards their dreams. (CLJD/JLDC, PIA Region 3-Pampanga)