Revilla to DPWH: Speed up reconstruction of Paeng

MANILA: Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. urged Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan to speed the process of repairing and reconstructing bridges and other public infrastructure that were destroyed by Severe Tropical Storm Paeng.

Among the bridges damaged by Severe Tropical Storm Paeng are the Nituan Bridge in Parang, Maguindanao; the Paliwan Bridge connecting the Antique towns of Laua-an and Bugasong; and the Bantilan Bridge connecting Sariaya, Quezon and San Juan, Batangas.

Revilla, who serves as chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Works, emphasized the urgent need to renovate these infrastructures because they are crucial to the movement of people and commodities in those areas.

“Bawat araw na lumilipas na hindi ayos ang mga tulay na ito ay napeperwisyo ang buhay at kabuhayan ng napakarami nating mga kababayan (Every passing day that these bridges are not reconstructed affects the livelihood of many of our countrymen),” Revilla stated.

Revilla suggested that the DPWH follow Japan's approach in hastily repairing and renovating damaged infrastructure.

He also asked Bonoan to submit a report to his committee outlining the full extent of damage to public infrastructures, such as dikes, revetments, and other flood control structures, summarizing the necessary funding for their immediate reconstruction, and providing a timeline for when the repairs will be completed.

Revilla guaranteed the DPWH that he would personally ask the Senate Committee on Finance for assistance in ensuring that necessary funds would be included in the DPWH's 2023 national budget.

“While the DPWH has Quick Response Funds for times of calamities, these funds are not intended for reconstruction which is what is actually needed in this instance,” Revilla stated. “Kaya kailangan malagyan ng pondo ang DPWH (That is why there is a need to allocate funds for the DPWH) specifically for this purpose.”

Revilla is currently going around his home province, Cavite, to distribute relief packs to the residents affected by Severe Tropical Storm Paeng. He vowed to proceed to affected other provinces afterwards.

He also expressed his gratitude to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for personally visiting Cavite and for proclaiming a state of calamity in the Calabarzon region, as well as other areas hit by the weather disturbance.

“I agree with the President's targeted approach. This will facilitate not only rehabilitation, but also in the prioritization of where assistance and resources should first be sent. With everyone's support, I am optimistic na sapat na yung (that it will last for) six months,” Revilla said, adding that local government units may also proclaim a state of calamity on their own if needed.

Photo from Province of Antique Facebook

Also read: Senators seek inspection of public structures after series of disasters