THE Department of Public Works and Highways is fast tracking the completion of roads and bridges under a P9.7-billion grant from the Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC).
Package 1 is for completion by December 2009 and Package 3 by September. The projects involve the construction of 17 and 64 bridges, respectively.
Bridges for construction under Package 1 include the 535-meter (m)-long Amburayan bridge in Ilocos Norte, 456m Quirino bridge in Ilocos Sur and La Union, the 520 m Sarat bridge in Ilocos Norte, and 66.5m reversed arch steel-type Kaling bridge in Benguet.
The remaining 13 short span bridges are scattered in Region 1 and the Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR). The project is 21.03% complete.
To date, the DPWH has completed 32 bridges under Packages 1 and 3-six in Alabat Island in Quezon province, six in Mindoro Occidental, 13 in Mindoro Oriental, three in Batangas, three in Cavite and one in Bicol.
Package 2 covers Regions 2 and 3 as well as CAR and involves 29 bridges.
Package 4 is concentrated in Visayas and Mindanao. The projects are up for bidding this month.
